Football stories hardly ever lack drama. Amidst the many emotions that run through the game, one of the most romantic stories in the game is perhaps when a professional player gets to turn up in the colours of his favourite club.
This was the case with Sky Bet Championship side Barnsley forward Oli McBurnie. The player who has currently been loaned out by Swansea City had a move to Rangers on the cards but instead ended up playing for Barnsley.
He said: “There were murmurs about Rangers in January but nothing ever happens easily or simply for me. I got told about 3 pm on deadline day that nothing was going to happen and I had a certain amount of clubs to pick from. I ended up choosing Barnsley and it’s going well for me at the minute.”
When asked about a future prospect of playing at Rangers, this is what he had to say.
“Would I play for Rangers down the line? Of course. I grew up supporting them and one day I would love to pull on the jersey. We’ll just have to see how my career goes and see if I am lucky enough to pull it on.”
McBurnie is a boyhood fan and this is what he revealed was the reason. He said: “Why Rangers? I never really had any choice. There are photos of me going to school in my Rangers tops and Scotland tops. You always support who your old man supports, don’t you? I don’t think anyone has many choices. I don’t hide it on social media. It helps that I’m in a different country.”
“If I was playing in Scotland, I don’t think I would be able to get away with it. I like to have a good laugh on Twitter and Instagram with the fans. A bit of banter never hurt anyone. I’m a Rangers fan. I’m not going to hide it. You get a bit of stick for it, but it is what it is.”
McBurnie hopes one day to emulate his childhood heroes who played for Rangers. He said, “Growing up, I loved Kris Boyd and Nikica Jelavic. I remember being gutted when he left to go to Everton.”
“There have been some ridiculously good players at Rangers over the years, but those were the ones I looked up to. I was in the back garden shouting ‘JELAVIC!’ when I was younger playing football.”
As for the Rangers fans, they would be hoping McBurnie does one day make the switch. Bringing in a player like Oli McBurnie, who is a long-term Rangers fan and has the experience of playing in England will add an exciting new dynamic to the Ibrox side.
