LUCA Rankin says Rangers was the only place he wanted to be when it came to weighing up the future of his young career.
The 16-year-old midfielder signed his first professional contract earlier this year amid well-documented interest from elsewhere.
There was no doubt a lot to consider for the teenager and his family, but he insists his positive experiences in the Rangers Academy from a very young age were a decisive contributor.
Speaking for the first time after committing his future to the club, Rankin said: “You always need to look at your options and see what’s best, but I always knew it was going to be Rangers.
“I’ve been here since I was a kid and have been welcomed the whole time. They made me feel wanted, and that’s exactly what I wanted to feel.
“It gives you that experience when you’re dropping back down [to Under-19s level], playing with players with experience of the Champions League. You can use it to your own advantage.”
Last season was a pivotal campaign in Rankin’s development as he began the campaign with the Under-17s at the age of 15 before being pushed up to Under-19s level and not once looking out of place.
His performances for Malky Thomson’s side earned him first-team training opportunities alongside Kyle Glasgow and Ashton Scally, all three of whom were born in 2010.
He continued: “The tempo was higher from Under-17s to Under-19s last season, but again when you go from Under-19s to first-team it’s night and day.
“Who impressed me? James Tavernier. The way he spoke to me, organised the team, really made me feel welcomed, and it made a difference for me.”
Rankin could play an even more prominent role for the Under-19s this campaign given fellow midfielders Aiden McCallion and Alexander Smith will spend the season on loan with Queen’s Park and East Kilbride respectively.
The exposure he received in the second half of last season will stand him in good stead, and the teenager says he relishes testing himself against physically more mature opponents.
He added: “It’s still challenging because I’m not the biggest, but being able to fight and grit my way through games will make me a better player.
“Challenging yourself is the best thing that you can do. If you’re in your comfort zone the whole time, you’re never going to get better, so if I can come here and I may get kicked up and down the whole game, I’m only going to get better. It’s massively beneficial for me.
“I take it game-by-game, but I’m always striving to be the best player on the pitch.
“That feeling of lifting the trophy and winning silverware with your teammates and friends is something you don’t want to forget.
“Once you win, you want to do it again and again as many times as you can, and we’re all striving towards that this season.”
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