Liverpool legend Graeme Souness has revealed he rejected the possibility to signal for Barcelona when he left the European champions in 1984.
The Scotland midfielder joined Italian membership Sampdoria for £650,000 simply weeks after lifting Liverpool's fourth European Cup towards Roma.
Souness was then one of many world's most interesting midfielders – he completed sixth in that yr's Ballon d'Or – so his choice to swap Anfield for Genoa, fairly than one in every of Europe's heavyweights, was a shock.
"I needed to go away Liverpool as a result of my spouse on the time was about to inherit cash and he or she needed to spend three years in a foreign country," Souness informed BBC Scotland's .
"I may have gotten round it one way or the other, however I made a decision to go as a result of at the moment Italy was the place to go. All the very best gamers on the earth have been going there.
"I obtained provided a two-year deal at Barcelona, which I turned down as a result of I wanted three and, even due to my age, go to the third yr.
"There have been a few different golf equipment in Italy , however Sampdoria had been purchased by Paolo Mantovani and he was constructing a younger group so wished an skilled participant. That's how I ended up there."
After rejecting Barcelona – who had simply appointed Terry Venables as supervisor and allowed Diego Maradona to depart for Napoli – Souness gained an Italian Cup in two seasons at Sampdoria earlier than becoming a member of Rangers as player-manager in 1986.
He revolutionised the Ibrox membership in a trophy-laden five-year spell in cost and has suggested the membership on managerial appointments lately.
Nevertheless, he says he would by no means grow to be Rangers supervisor once more – in the identical method as Martin O'Neill has returned to Celtic – as a result of his abrasive fashion of administration doesn’t work with right this moment's gamers.
"No, Martin's a really completely different persona to me. He's a pleasant man," added the 73-year-old.
"I began in administration at 33 and soccer was a really completely different office then. My fashion of administration, possibly my fashion of telling folks too readily what they don't need to hear, it wouldn't work right this moment.
"Soccer actually wants a little bit of that, however would it not settle for it? I doubt it."
'Rangers have planted seed in Celtic's head'
Souness, whose new ebook 'My Rangers: How I modified Scottish soccer for ever' was launched this week, believes his outdated membership have the psychological edge over Celtic following the 2 Previous Agency victories by Derek McInnes' aspect in September.
Rangers beat Celtic 3-0 within the League Cup at Ibrox then gained 1-0 at Celtic Park within the Premiership every week later and sit two factors behind the champions within the desk.
"They've now psychologically planted a seed in Celtic's heads that they’re larger, stronger and higher than them within the final two video games," he mentioned.
"Celtic have left Ibrox after dropping 3-0 within the first sport considering, 'how did that occur?' It didn't flatter Rangers.
"So, seven days later, for those who're a Celtic supporter, participant or on the employees you're considering 'that gained't occur once more'. Properly, it did occur once more, and in your pitch – and the 1-0 didn’t flatter Rangers.
"So that they've now obtained a psychological edge over Celtic, however that might be short-lived if Rangers have been to lose a sport towards a group they're anticipated to beat.
"They've given themselves a platform. They're in an exquisite place, however they’ve to know that, each group you play, it's the opposition's cup closing. So Derek's obtained to remind them of that and so they'll appear to be they've began to imagine.
"Derek has been a participant there and is aware of the Scottish scene. So he was effectively suited and an important selection. He did get off to a gradual begin, however within the final couple of video games they've turned an infinite nook."
