MOHAMED Diomande says it’s a dream come true to pull on the Rangers shirt for real.
The 20-year-old Ivorian has netted twice in successive starts for Philippe Clement’s side after making the switch from FC Nordsjaelland on loan with an obligation to buy last month.
The midfielder has followed the club closely since he was young and believes it’s an honour to represent the club.
Speaking to the media ahead of tomorrow evening’s trip to Rugby Park to face Kilmarnock, Diomande commented: “It’s amazing to score in front of your fans and for them to cheer. I scored my first goal and I hope that there are many more to come. I’m just happy to score my first goal at Ibrox.
“It was one of the key moments that made the deal happen, that I have been in love with the club from a young age.
“I have been following Rangers a lot and know what they have achieved.
“The picture of me in a Rangers shirt? I got it from the guy who scouted me from Ivory Coast when I was 11-years-old. He got me the shirt and I wore it for some personal training in Ghana.
“The people are amazing here. It’s going amazing already, and my family are trying to move here to visit me.”
The Ivory Coast Under-21 international made an immediate impact when he netted the opening goal in the 3-0 victory away to McDiarmid Park earlier this month.
He followed up his maiden strike with a vital goal against Hearts at Ibrox last weekend, and the midfielder has credited his teammates for helping make the transition to Scotland as seamless as possible.
He added: “I’m settling in very well, getting a lot of help from my teammates and people around the club, so it’s been amazing so far.
“I think it was the right step for me. Rangers are a big club and everyone knows about them.
“I can only do what I can do to convince people to put me into the national team. I think it’s the right place to be to continue my footballing education and career.
“I had a good talk with the gaffer before I came here, so I sort of knew what he was expecting of me and what I can bring to the team.
“I’m going to be humble and continue doing what I have been doing. What’s important for me is to look to the next game; it’s good to have two goals already, but I’m already looking forward at what I can do better.
“I scored a few goals when I was back in Denmark. I want to make a difference, and scoring goals while getting into the right places at the right times is part of it.
“I praise my teammates for the good work that we’ve done already. I’m here for the last part of the season, but I know they’ve done a good job already.
“I know the reason that they’re where they are, because I see how hard they are working every day in training.
“Everyone is really focussed and, for me and my teammates, we’re only looking ahead to the next game which is tomorrow.”