Jermain Defoe has disclosed the powerful comment from Steven Gerrard that persuaded him to join Rangers.
The former England striker, who signed for the club in January 2019, netted 32 goals and played a key role in Rangers' 2020-21 Premiership title win.
Defoe was struggling for game time at Bournemouth when he received a call about a potential move to Glasgow. He explained on The Warm-Up podcast: "I wasn't getting on the pitch, for whatever reason.
"I just felt like I was there as a mentor more than a player, but I wasn't ready for that. I still wanted to play."
His agent contacted him while Rangers were playing in Europe to gauge his interest in an Ibrox switch. Defoe said: "I remember watching the game and obviously not playing at Bournemouth.
"I said to my agent: 'Get it done.'"
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He subsequently met Gerrard, who travelled south to explain how he would fit into his plans at Rangers.
However, it was one statement from the former Liverpool captain that left a lasting impression. Defoe said: "Before I walked out, he said to me, 'This football club is the nearest thing I've seen to Liverpool Football Club.'
"When he said that I was like 'wow - that's a powerful statement.'"
While Defoe was aware that Rangers were one of the most prominent clubs in British football, he admitted that he did not grasp the scale of the support until he arrived in Scotland.
He said: "I knew it was a massive football club but you don't feel it until you actually go. Even going there at the age of 36, I still felt like I had stuff to prove. I'd gone into Rangers with a reputation of being a goalscorer in England.
"You have to do it here as well, otherwise I'd be embarrassed."
