The midfielder was told he wasn’t good enough by Rangers, and he wanted to prove to Philippe Clement’s team that they were mistaken.

It’s easy to forget that Lewis Ferguson began his junior career at Rangers in 2009, long before Philippe Clement succeeded Michael Beale as the team’s manager, where he played for four years in the development setup before going on to become a Scotland international and relocate to Italy.

Currently a vital component of Bologna’s Serie A club, the midfielder is drawing interest from a number of European teams, especially Premier League teams.

When the 24-year-old was questioned by Corriere di Bologna about his early Rangers career, the publication mentioned that he was abruptly fired by the Ibrox club.

Ferguson claims that this was the young player’s turning point, as he became even more driven to prove to everyone at the Scottish Premiership team that they were wrong to let him go.

He said: “When I was young, I also played for Rangers. In my head, when I grew up, I had to play for that club. I grew up cheering for that team. I couldn’t see any other path., We call it tunnel vision. At 14, I was forced to leave: ‘You’re not good enough’, was the judgment. It was pretty tough.

“My perspective shifted following that rejection. A spark was present. I desired to disprove the opinions of people who had rejected. My head was completely blown away. I knew when I was 14 or 15 that I wanted to pursue a career in medicine with all of my heart. At Hamilton, the club in my tiny town close to Glasgow, I started over. They were excellent. They bring out the best in children, and I found that to be the case as well. Ferguson truly established himself at Hamilton after going there from Rangers in 2013. He worked his way up through the levels to make the first team and attracted Bologna’s attention.

 

Despite the risks, he accepted the Italian team’s offer to play in a higher division and has since emerged as “one of the most sought-after midfielders” in the league, according to Corriere di Bologna.

With four goals and four assists in 21 appearances this season, he has established himself as a crucial component of Thiago Motta’s plans. Rangers young coaches may be left wondering what might have been if they had given him a little more faith all those years ago.