Lewis Ferguson has admitted he still dreams of playing for Rangers, but insists talks over a summer move never got off the ground. The Scotland star, released as a schoolboy at Ibrox, was heavily linked with a return to the club he grew up supporting. His dad, Derek, a Rangers hero in his own playing days, even claimed his son had verbally agreed terms to team up with Derek McInnes' side.
After months of speculation, the former Aberdeen star ultimately decided to stay put in Bologna. Yet while Ferguson remains committed to the Serie A side for now, the 27-year-old made it clear he still has a burning ambition to follow in the footsteps of his father and uncle Barry.
Ferguson on the speculation
Speaking ahead of Scotland's Nations League clash with Switzerland, he said: "There was a little bit of interest but it's always blown up because it's me. I think because of the connections, if it was any other player, it would be sort of brushed to the side, but it's always been the case with me. I'm pretty used to it by now."
"I had a long think after the World Cup and then time spent on holiday. I thought about the future. I was a little bit unsure. But, you know, nothing ever was really that close to be honest. When I went back for pre-season with Bologna, I had a new manager, so it was like a fresh start again."
"Although we've changed manager again since then, so I've had three new managers in the last two months. I had a long, long think about my future and what that was going to look like. In the end, it was still at Bologna. I've loved every moment that I've had there. So it was just about continuing that journey and see where it takes me."
Commitment to Bologna
"I know what I've got out there. I know I'm settled and my family's happy. And then they (Bologna) weren't willing for me to leave. I said that I had a long think about it, and I was kind of doubting a wee bit my future, I didn't know where I was going to be."
"But then I obviously spoke to them, and we had a new manager at the time so I spoke to him and he reassured me that I was going to be an important figure for him moving forward. I had really positive chats with him, I got a really good feel off him. And then obviously, I went back in and met him face to face and we had a really good relationship. So that just sort of confirmed it that I thought I still want to be here."
Asked if he still dreams of playing for Rangers, the midfielder said: "I think one day, it's no secret I grew up a fan. That's certainly no secret. My family's involved in the club, and yeah, it's an aspiration and a dream of mine as a kid - and that's not changed."
"But you know, I don't want to speak about that while I'm still a player at Bologna. I've got too much respect for them. But yeah, in the future, you never know. That's always been sitting in the back of my mind."
No rush to leave Serie A
While a sensational homecoming might happen some day down the line, Ferguson admits he's in no rush to walk away from one of Europe's top-five leagues. He said: "Aye, definitely. It has been my home for the last four years. We've played at such a high level. We've won the Coppa Italia, we've played Europa League, got to the quarterfinals, played Champions League. So it's been an amazing four years, not just for me, for the club in general. I've loved every minute of it. I absolutely love the club."
Dad Derek has dropped bombshells left, right and centre on various podcasts when quizzed on his boy's future. Earlier this month, he stated that he felt the "ship had sailed" for the Scotland star to join the club he grew up supporting.
But Ferguson takes everything his old man says with a pinch of salt. He laughed: "I get annoyed with him every time he speaks! I think sometimes he speaks without thinking - and I'm watching it and going 'oh no'. I just say to him every now and then, when I think he's said something that isn't right, I'll have a word with him. But that's it. We've got such a good relationship that I can phone him if I think he's said something."
