Fran Sandaza insists leaving Rangers was the best move of his career.
The former Ibrox, Dundee United and St Johnstone striker called time on his time in Glasgow after a hoax phone call with a Celtic fan went viral as the Spaniard discussed a possible move to the MLS.
Instead, Sandaza ended up featuring in Japan, India, China, Qatar and most notably his homeland Spain, where he achieved promotion to La Liga with Girona.
“It has been a long time and, looking back, I can say it (leaving Rangers) was the best thing that happened for me,” Sandaza told the Courier. “I scored a lot of goals back in Spain, won a promotion to La Liga and made very good contacts.
“I think this all happened for a reason.
“It was not the best goodbye to Scotland but leaving that club was the best thing for me. With my career over I can say it was a bad decision to sign for Rangers. That is for sure.
“When I was in the lower divisions, my mentality was not the best. I knew right away that it was not right.
“The only bad experience in Scotland was Rangers. It was a bad choice to go to that club; the worst club of my career.”
On his time at Dundee United under Craig Levein, Sandaza added:
“My first year at United was one of the best in my career,” he recalled. “Everything was new, I learned the language and was made to feel like a real footballer; playing senior matches in front of big crowds.
“It was a very big step for me and, of course, there was some fear. I was young and coming to a new country. I had no wife or kids and no-one knew about me.
“But Craig Levein and the coaches were very nice to me and I can think back to many friends I made in Dundee who helped me feel welcome. It was a very important decision (to join United), and a big experience in my life.”
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