Lorenzo Amoruso had a six-year-long spell at Rangers between 1997 and 2003. He has now revealed rejecting Leeds United before moving to Ibrox.

The defender moved to Ibrox when very few Italians were playing in the United Kingdom.

He made quite a mark at Rangers, playing 215 times and winning three league titles. Amoruso has now spoken to ChiamarsiBomber about the process of joining Rangers from Fiorentina.

Speaking of his time at Rangers, Amoruso said: “It was a unique, very special experience. At the time, very few Italians went abroad. Rangers gave me the chance to play against the best strikers in Europe. The club was playing in the then European Cup, where only the top teams in each league reached the finals.”

He revealed that the experience gave him a new perspective about the game.

“That experience gave me a completely different perspective, both from a footballing and, above all, human perspective. You get exposure to different cultures. You have to prove yourself in an environment where no one gives you anything. In those parts, they don’t expect you, you have to pedal.”

Further, he said he Leeds United in favour of Rangers and has no regrets about the decision.

“At that time, I had received several requests from various English teams, including Leeds. With Fiorentina, we had a Cup Winners’ Cup semi-final to play against Barcelona; I had to mark a certain Ronaldo.

“I wasn’t interested in the transfer market; I still had many years left on my contract. At the end of the season, I realised that Fiorentina was having financial problems. The opportunity to play in the European Cup came up and the contract I had been offered wasn’t to be underestimated.

“I began to evaluate the possibility. It was a choice I would make again a hundred billion times.”

Amoruso enjoyed his time at Rangers, who were regulars in major European competitions at that time.

After that, he had a spell at Blackburn Rangers, where he could never really make a mark.

Joining Leeds United would’ve meant playing in the Premier League. But playing for the Scottish giants helped him win multiple trophies when he was at his best. In 2002, he was Rangers’ Footballer of the Year.