Scotland international Lewis Ferguson has revealed he could have been lining up against Rangers next week if suitors Union Saint-Gilloise won the race for his signature.
The 22-year-old plumped for a move to Serie A side Bologna but the Ibrox side's rivals in Champions League qualifying were keen to secure his signature. Ferguson admits the lure of starring in one of European football's top five leagues proved too much to turn down but he did share a joke with his agent after the third qualifying draw was made.
The midfielder landed Aberdeen £3 million and has opened up on the multiple suitors who were targeting his signature before he left the Granite City. Speaking to the Daily Mail, he said: "There were a few options in Europe and USG was one of them. We had to have a serious chat and think about things and make sure I made the right decision on what felt right for me.
"Bologna felt like the right choice and I was delighted to come here. But I did have a wee laugh and texted my agent Bill McMurdo when I saw the Champions League draw.
"Belgium was an option and it would have been a good experience to play against Rangers in a Champions League qualifier. Ultimately, I feel as though I made the right choice by coming to Italy with Bologna."
And he admits his long-term career strategy always centred on seeking a foreign adventure to take his game to the next level. Ferguson is convinced he's made the right call as he aims to mix it with some of Italian football's biggest clubs in Serie A.
He added: "From a young age, I just wanted to play as many games and minutes as possible with Hamilton Accies and Aberdeen in the Scottish Premiership.
"I think I achieved that and one of my main goals is to play in the Premier League in England.
"Another was to play in a top overseas league and try life in a different country, be it Spain, Germany or Italy.
"I wanted to try a top-five league and, by coming to Bologna, I hope I can develop into a much better player than I am just now.
"The club and the staff are the right people to take me forward and make me a better player.
"I just want to be the best I can be and I think this is the right time, the right place for me to develop and kick on.
"Coming to a top league I will be testing myself every week against the best players in the world. I will be testing myself every day against top players in training and I think it will just make me an all-round better player."
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