Former Italy midfielder Gennaro Gattuso has revealed that part of his decision to join Rangers in the 1990 was down to a threat of violence from his own father.
"Rino" Gattuso, who was part of the Italian squad which won the 2006 FIFA World Cup, revealed this week that his father had threatened to punch him if he did not join the Glasgow side.
Gattuso only lasted a year at Rangers, after being shipped out by incoming manager Dick Advocaat in 1998, and it appears as though the ITalian wasn't entirely keen on the move in the first place.
Gennaro Gattuso's father threatened to punch him if he did not join Rangers
Speaking in Spain this week - where he is currently manager of Valencia - Gennaro Gattuso revealed that money was a major factor in his 1997 move to Rangers - but not for him.
Gattuso revealed that his father was staggered by the money on offer on the blue half of Glasgow, and threatened his son to sign with a promise of a punch if he did not go through with the move.
Gattuso said:
I didn't want to go to Glasgow. I had played two games in Serie B and was promoted to Serie A with Perugia, where I played eight games without a contract. Then I played the Under 19s Finals with Italy.
One day my father comes and tells me that a representative of Glasgow Rangers has come to town and has offered a contract to me. I didn't want to leave and I told this to my father.
He told me that the money they were offering was so much he couldn't even write down the total figure. He told me it was four times his total earnings in his lifetime.
When I still said no, he said he would punch me if I didn't accept it, so I signed for Rangers!
Gattuso moved to Glasgow when he was just 17, but his greatest success would come during his time at AC Milan, where he became a two-time Champions League winner, and entered a royal rumble against Joe Jordan.
The controversial and fiery midfielder made only 51 appearances for Rangers, scoring five goals during his year in Scotland. He would go on to speak on his experience of the UK in his interview:
I went to Glasgow and I didn't know anyone and didn't have two words in English. But after two weeks, I looked more Scottish than a Scottish player. I trained three or four times a day, I would go to the gym for hours.
I built myself up with this mentality. I knew I didn't have great technique, but I prepared myself to mentally kill my opponent. I have dedicated my life to football.
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