‘Dead and buried’ – Cyriel Dessers opens up on why he exited Rangers

Super Eagles and Panathinaikos striker Cyriel Dessers has opened up about how sad he felt when he had to exit Rangers, Afrik Foot reports.

The 31-year-old was the highest goal-scorer at Ibrox in his two seasons with Gers, but was never appreciated enough.

Dessers scored 52 goals and provided 17 assists in 112 games for Rangers, the 5th most goal contributions for the club in the 21st century.

At the start of his third season in Scotland, the Belgium-born Nigerian joined Greek side Panathinaikos for €4.63m, although he’s played just eight games due to a muscle problem.

Why Cyriel Dessers left Rangers

The 11-cap Super Eagles striker admits he felt compelled to leave Rangers because of mixed messages about his status at the club.

“I got injured in the Scottish Cup final [of 2024]. But I remember that summer, I went home and thought ’22 goals.

“I fought back from a situation where I was almost dead and buried’. I thought I showed that at least I deserved the chance to be the number one striker for Rangers in the next season,” Dessers said in an interview with the Rangers Review.

“Then I got a little bit of a confusing message from my agent a few days before the pre-season. The club had said, ‘We’re happy with Cyriel. He’s professional. He’s working hard. He’s correct. But if he wants to leave or if a good offer comes, then he’s allowed to leave.’

“I thought that was a very strange message to give to a player who had scored 22 goals, finally found rhythm, was happy and could do better.

“That summer was weird. Some clubs came in, but it never really worked through because I didn’t really want to leave. I said, ‘No, I want to fight for my chance at Rangers’.

“But from this moment, I’m not sure I felt the full confidence from the coaching staff or club, but I thought I will fight and see,” Dessers continued.

“It was confusing. They never wanted to say to me, ‘You are going to be the number one striker’. But I think I did well in training. I think I did well in the games I played. I remember Victoria Plzen at home, for example.

“And then at the end of the summer, it accelerated. I said it will take a very beautiful or a big club for me to depart from Rangers because I don’t think a lot of clubs can be put in the same or a similar category.

“When you come in and score 52 goals in two seasons at my age, 30 years old, you have to look at a lot of things: the duration of your contract, the situation at the club.

“A lot of things were changing and I didn’t feel the full confidence from the board, but I had it from the coaching staff.

“I left, and until today, it has been a difficult season for me with some injuries. But I’m still very happy with the step I made because it’s a beautiful club, beautiful fans, pressure, atmosphere – all similar to Rangers,” the AFCON 2025 bronze medallist concluded.

Rangers have lost ground in their race for the SPFL title, having lost their previous two league games against Motherwell and Hearts.

They have the chance to put a dent on Celtic’s title hopes tomorrow in the Old Firm derby.