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Jamie Vardy cited as Rangers confirm new signing - expert
Alex McLeish has lauded Rangers for pulling off the signing of Bailey Rice.
The former Gers boss, speaking exclusively to Football Insider claims the young star may be a late developer.
On 30 June, Rangers’ Academy announced Rice had joined their Under 18s side after his departure from Motherwell was confirmed.
The midfielder rejected a professional contract in favour of joining Giovanni van Bronckhorst’s side for an undisclosed fee.
As revealed by Football Insider (29 June), was also interest from clubs south of the border, as well as Glasgow rivals Celtic.
Football Scotland reported in January that Man City were one side who were interested in signing Rice and McLeish has hailed Rangers for the capture.
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“That’s the thing with youngsters, they might sign for a club aged nine and then spend eight or nine years there doing well,” McLeish told Football Insider correspondent Ben Wild
“Some of them make the grade at that club and some of them move on. Some of them don’t develop the same way.
“You can never write a kid off. I’ve heard of kids being written off at age 12, you don’t know how they are going to develop.
“Look at Jamie Vardy, Ian Wright, the were late developers. It’s a good move by Rangers and to beat Celtic and Man City, it shows how highly rated the youth system is at Ibrox.”
Rice has earned 14 caps for Scotland at youth level.
He made three appearances at the under-17 European Championships.
In other news, Rangers have been backed to turn Ross Stewart’s head after journalist’s update.