Filip Helander has opened up on his injury hell at Rangers and revealed being crocked for so long effectively ruled out any chance of extending his stay at Ibrox.
The big Swede had offered the Light Blues consistency in his first few seasons under Steven Gerrard but was then sidelined for over a year with a foot injury. The 30-year-old had to watch from the stands as Rangers flourished in the Europa League and won the Scottish Cup, before new boss Michael Beale described the defender's problem as a "unique situation."
Helander was ultimately let go alongside the likes of Ryan Kent and Alfredo Morelos, with veterans Allan McGregor and Scott Arfield also bidding farewell. There was light at the end of the dark tunnel for the Swede, however, when former club Malmo revealed their interest in bringing him home. Now the defender is training with his old side as part of recovery, and is not ruling out a return to action when fully fit.
He made just 35 league starts for Rangers after a £3.5 million from Bologna in 2019, and admits his injury hell may have hampered a potential extended Ibrox stay, a factor he won't hold a grudge over.
He told Fotbollskanalen: "I was out running anyway and it felt good in the foot. I'm happy about it after being away for so long. It has been complicated and things may have gone wrong in the rehab, for various reasons. There are of course things you cannot know. It hasn't gone the way we wanted at first.
"I haven't been able to play much football. It's clear, it takes a toll on you mentally. You go and wait and hope, then things don't go as you want and so on. Of course it has been [difficult]. But that's football. At the same time, I have had a good time otherwise in life, but of course I would have liked football to be different."
When quizzed about whether a new deal was on the cards, he said: "Because it turned out the way it did - the idea was that I would come to training already in March - but then when it didn't happen, it wasn't really relevant from their side [Rangers], which you have to buy. Having been injured as long as I have, I understand their situation. They didn't really know how it would go for me."
Helander insists Malmo is his home and that conversations with sporting director Daniel Andersson remain ongoing over his future, as he responded when asked if he could re-join the club. He added: "Yes, but it's clear. I'm from here, my family is from here and Malmo has developed incredibly as a club. Only by being here have I been able to see it. They seem to have a good harmony in the team, so I could definitely imagine that. Then I don't know what my options are either. Of course, if there is interest from both sides, it is something I will think about."
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