'Got loads of options' - Mentor confirms Gerrard convinced Aribo to join Rangers

Joe Aribo's old mentor, Harry Hudson has confirmed that Liverpool icon Steven Gerrard convinced the Nigerian to join Glasgow Rangers in the summer of 2019.

The Nigeria international had been linked with a plethora of clubs in England following a breakout season that saw him directly participate in fifteen goals for Charlton Athletic.

Former Addicks boss Lee Bowyer criticized the decision of Aribo to move to the Light Blues instead of remaining in England, claiming it would end his career, but he has been proved wrong.

Aribo has shown his brilliance since joining Rangers and with approximately one year left on his contract, it is all but confirmed that he will be moving to a Premier League team in the summer.

The Super Eagles midfielder played 112 matches for Rangers with Gerrard in the dugout, including appearances in the Europa League and Champions League qualifiers.

"I remember in the summer when he was leaving he was kind of like ‘It’s such a long way away, I don’t know’ and I said to him you’ve got loads of options, and he had a lot at the time, but you’ve got to go where the best platform is and if you go to Rangers and play you’re playing in front of 50k and got the potential to play in Europe," Hudson explained to Football Scotland.

"These things are massive and you can always come back to England. It couldn’t have gone better for him. I think at the time Steven Gerrard was a big influence in him going. An incredible player in his position.

"It was the best choice for Joe and I’m so glad he took it. That’s been proven by the rise in his performance levels and ability and now his stock is very high."

Aribo was playing non-league football until he was 18 and was on the books of Staines Town at the time.

On the international stage, the 25-year-old has also made progress in his career, representing the Super Eagles in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations and could be featuring in this year's World Cup if Nigeria see off regional rivals Ghana in the playoff later this month.

Igho Kingsley