"I didn’t want to leave," Nigerian striker Dessers speaks on Rangers transfer speculation

• Rangers refused loan offers for Dessers, and by the end of January, he had regained form with six goals and an assist in five games
• Dessers' recent form has helped Rangers improve, giving them hope for a strong finish to the season
• Though Rangers trail Celtic by 13 points, Dessers remains optimistic about securing silverware this season

Just weeks ago, Cyriel Dessers' future at Rangers appeared uncertain. The Super Eagles striker had slipped down the pecking order, losing his starting spot to Hamza Igamane. 

With his game time diminishing, speculation over a potential exit intensified, with reports linking him to multiple clubs across Europe.

However, despite receiving ten offers in the January transfer window, Dessers ultimately remained at Ibrox. The Nigerian forward has now spoken out, admitting that while there was genuine interest, he never actively sought a move away from Rangers.

At the start of the year, Dessers was reportedly struggling for minutes, making him a prime target for clubs looking to bolster their attacking options. 

His agent, Stijn Francis, confirmed that several clubs made contact, with some proposing loan deals as a route to secure his signature. Rangers, however, were unwilling to entertain such moves.

Reflecting on the situation, Dessers stated that while he was aware of the interest, his focus remained on reclaiming his spot at Rangers, 

“I spoke two or three times with Nils Koppen [Rangers' recruitment chief], and we had very good conversations about the situation, at the time, I was not playing much, so obviously, teams were asking questions. But my priority was always to get back into the team,” he revealed.

His patience paid off. By the end of January, Dessers had regained his form, forming a dangerous attacking duo with Igamane. In just five games, he contributed six goals and an assist, proving his worth to the team.

Despite Rangers sitting 13 points behind Celtic in the Scottish Premiership title race, Dessers has not given up on silverware. His resurgence has provided the club with much-needed firepower as they look to finish the season on a high.

His side can book a Scottish Cup quarter-final slot if they win against fifth-round opponents Queen’s Park on Sunday, February 9, while they also have a Europa League last-16 round next month.

For now, Dessers remains a key figure at Ibrox, one who chose to fight for his place rather than seek an easy way out.

“Fans threw stones at our bus,” Leon Balogun recounts experience representing Nigeria

Previously, TheRadar reported that Super Eagles defender Leon Balogun and his Rangers team-mates had to survive the frustrations and groans from the home fans at Ibrox on Sunday, November 10 as they struggled to a 1-0 win over Hearts. 

The 36-year-old defender, in his fourth year at Ibrox, recalled a much more complicated situation after Nigeria let slip a comfortable lead in an Africa Cup of Nations qualifier four years ago.