Hearts new boy Jorge Grant has revealed he watched the Scottish Cup Final defeat to Rangers while on holday at a beach club and had no idea he would be putting pen to paper for that same team just weeks later.
Robbie Neilson snapped up the midfielder from Peterborough on a three-year deal as he continues his summer recruitment drive ahead of a big season both domestically and on the European stage. Alan Forrest, Kye Rowles, Lewis Neilson and Alex Cochrane have joined the latest recruit in committing to the capital club.
The 27-year-old jetted out to Spain to hook up with his new team-mates at their warm-weather training camp after becoming Hearts' fifth summer signing. But it was that showpiece at Hampden that gave him a first insight of his new club and what is in store for him for the upcoming campaign.
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He said: "I just knew it was a massive club with a massive fan base. The amount of messages I got yesterday morning, people speaking to me and welcoming me to the club. It's been very nice, the lads have made me feel welcome too.
“I actually watched the cup final when I was abroad with one of my friends, so I know the standard of the club. That drew me to it as well.
"I didn't know at that point. We were just sat at a beach club and it was on TV so we ended up watching it. It's unfortunate for the lads how it ended but the manager told me Hearts have been in three of the last four cup finals. That just shows how a big a club this is.”
Grant knew his time was up at the Weston Homes Stadium a long while ago but his release would not come cheap with a hefty price tag put on his head.
Hearts had a bid much lower than the £750,000 accepted for his services with Posh chief Barry Fry admitting he couldn't stand in the way of such a good opportunity.
Opening up on the move and his first chat with Neilson, he said: "It's been on the cards for ages and ages now, so it's just nice to get it done.
“About a month ago, my agent spoke to me when I was at Peterborough. They put me on the transfer list so we kind of knew that this summer, we'd attract some interest with it being publicised.
“So it was quite early on, which was nice. Knowing a club wants you is a nice feeling. I came up last week. it's a massive club so straight away it drew my interest.
"I could have stayed at many League One teams and done the same thing I've done all my career. That's why I've taken this opportunity.
"I came up last Monday and met the manager, met Joe [Savage], went round the stadium, the training ground and saw the city. From that moment on, I knew that I'd be signing. I'm just glad it's all done.
"It was tough last season because towards the back end, I didn't play at all. Them then asking for a high fee would've pretty much made it impossible, so I have to thank them for dropping the fee down a lot. It's helped me out and helped them out as a club, because they've got money for me."
Speaking to the Daily Record, he continued: “After the initial interest he gave me a call, which was nice.
“It's nice to know the manager wants you. He explained what the club was like and how it works, plus the way the team plays. I felt that fitted in well with me. He wants me to bring quality to the team, bring that quality in the final third and try to help get goals and assists.
"At the start of my career I played wide midfield, played on the left a lot, and as I've got older I've developed. I can play wide, I can play No.10, I can play No.8 and holding midfield as well. I think that's a good thing for me that I'm versatile and can play different positions. That's one of my strengths.
"I do think I'm more effective when I'm close to the goal. I can obviously be involved in the game a lot in midfield but I'm more effective in the final third.”
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