Kemar Roofe could have been set to support Celtic in this weekend’s Old Firm clash with Rangers if the Scottish champions had succeeded in signing him. Roofe instead signed for Gers in 2020 after the club paid Anderlecht £4.5 million for his contribution.
The 33-year-old previously revealed he had an opportunity to move to the Scottish Premiership before arriving at Rangers. Appearing on the Open Goal podcast last year, he admitted that he turned down the chance to join Celtic in order to focus on the Belgian side. He said: “First it was Celtic. Celtic asked my agent about it and I said no, because my only focus was to play for Anderlecht.”
“I spoke to[then-Anderlecht manager]Vincent Kompany a week before that and he said, “We still want you here.” In my head, I was going to play another full season at Anderlecht, so I said no.”
However, Roofe would soon invite a move to Scotland, but to the blue half of Glasgow. The striker revealed that Rangers accepted an offer to sign him due to Anderlecht’s financial problems, but Celtic never made an offer.
“Then about a week later I got a call from Vincent Kompany saying that Rangers had made a bid and the club accepted it. The difference was that Rangers had actually made a bid.”
“As soon as the bid came, they immediately said yes because the club was in a financial situation due to the coronavirus. Then it was up to me to decide whether to go to Rangers or stay at Anderlecht.”
Roofe recalled his first conversation with Gerrard, with the Liverpool legend saying: “Come on, be our number nine and win the league.” He did just that, leading the club to their first league title in 10 years and an unbeaten league season, with Roofe making an instant impact at Ibrox.
The forward, who has not been with the club since February after leaving Walsall, has scored 18 goals in all competitions, 14 of which came in league play in his debut season. Roofe will no doubt be keen to watch Sunday’s Old Firm derby, the sixth of the season, as Celtic aim to keep their title hopes alive.
