BlueMeanie
Well-Known Member
The ex-Ibrox striker is a huge fan of the man who is threatening to break his record tally of 33 goals before the New Year.
Marco Negri told Alfredo Morelos to steer clear of the squash court as he backed him to smash his record haul of 33 goals before the New Year.
And the former Rangers striker admitted his relief that the Colombian is still banging them in at Ibrox after revealing he urged Udinese to sign the hitman two years ago.
Morelos continued his incredible season after bagging his 22nd goal of the campaign with a well-taken clincher in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Livingston.
His increasing tally has seen comparisons drawn between Negri’s astonishing first half of the season at the Light Blues after Walter Smith signed him from Perugia in a £3.5million deal in 1997.
The Italian netted an astonishing 33 goals, including a staggering 23 in his first 10 games, in all competitions up until the end of December.
But Negri’s career stalled after a freak eye injury caused during an infamous squash match against countryman Segio Porrini and the goals dried up.
The frontman was sidelined for a month before admitting he was rushed back with the pressure on to secure 10-in-a-row and he managed just three more goals.
He admits the potential that season is the biggest ‘what if?’ of his life as Gers missed out on their historic title and Negri on the European Golden Boot.
Morelos scored his 22nd goal of the season - a tally Negri had incredibly reached by October 18 thanks to four goals in a 7-0 blitz of Dunfermline -at Almondvale.
He now has 10 games left this year to equal Negri’s tally and the 49-year-old hopes he smashes his impressive record.
And as he spoke to Record Sport from his home in Italy, Negri laughed: “My biggest advice to Alfredo Morelos would be to keep away from the squash court!
“Seriously, Alfredo is on fire and it is amazing for him to have scored 22 goals already. The team is playing very good football and creating many chances so you never know what can happen.
“And the bottom line is that I am a fan of Rangers so I want him to score as many goals as possible, even if that means beating my record.
“Listen, it’s just a number and records are there to be broken so I would have no problem whatsoever if Alfredo can reach 33 or even more.
“I was on the coaching staff working as a striker coach at Serie A side Udinese and I actually recommended Morelos to them at the time.
Marco Negri celebrating with Barry Ferguson in December 1997 (Image: Daily Record)
“It was about two years ago and I spoke to the board and told them how good he was and suggested they take a look at him but for whatever reason they didn’t follow up on it.
“These things happen in football - there are so many players to look at.
"But now I am so relieved that they didn’t do anything because I’m no longer at Udinese and I want him to help Rangers win some trophies.
“I told them he was young and talented and that his style would have suited Serie A but that wasn’t unusual for me to recommend players.
“I was a penalty box player and very lucky to play with great players like Gazza, Jorg Albertz nd Brian Laudrup who could assist me and I just hung around waiting for my chance.
“Alfredo Morelos is different. He is very strong, he has a big personality and is improving every season which is the most important thing.
“He scores all types of goals - left foot, right foot and headers - and he can also assist, play wide and around the box so he has so much to offer.
“I love him and he’s improved his disciplinary record which is a big step forward for him. I was different in style but the most important thing for any strike is to put the ball over the line.
“He’s scoring so many goals but also against very big clubs in the Europa League which is a high level so he’s showing everyone he’s one of the best attacking players in Europe. And he’s only 23-years-old so he has a big future ahead of him because he’s still young.”
Negri admitted it’s a huge regret that his goals ultimately counted for nothing as Rangers finished trophy-less for the first time in 13 years.
He said: “The biggest ‘what if?’ of my life is how many goals I would have scored for Rangers that season if I hadn’t picked an injury that must be one of the most bizarre in Scottish football.
“I was on fire, so confident on the pitch and playing with top class players. But I don’t ask myself any more what might could have been because it’s better that way.
“I can laugh about it now but I remember at the time we were on course for 10-in-a-row and I could have won the Golden Boot.
“Sergio was the wrong choice of playmate for squash because it should not have been a game in which winning became everything and yet with Sergio that was impossible “It was very tough but I managed to get 36 goals that season although I would have swapped them to win the league, absolutely.
“A striker scores goals to help the club and not for himself so if the team doesn’t win anything then it’s not really important.
“You would have to ask Alfredo Morelos if he feels the same about this season but I’m a supporter now and the most important thing for me isn’t for Alfredo to score 50 goals but that Rangers win trophies.”
Marco Negri told Alfredo Morelos to steer clear of the squash court as he backed him to smash his record haul of 33 goals before the New Year.
And the former Rangers striker admitted his relief that the Colombian is still banging them in at Ibrox after revealing he urged Udinese to sign the hitman two years ago.
Morelos continued his incredible season after bagging his 22nd goal of the campaign with a well-taken clincher in Sunday’s 2-0 win over Livingston.
His increasing tally has seen comparisons drawn between Negri’s astonishing first half of the season at the Light Blues after Walter Smith signed him from Perugia in a £3.5million deal in 1997.
The Italian netted an astonishing 33 goals, including a staggering 23 in his first 10 games, in all competitions up until the end of December.
But Negri’s career stalled after a freak eye injury caused during an infamous squash match against countryman Segio Porrini and the goals dried up.
The frontman was sidelined for a month before admitting he was rushed back with the pressure on to secure 10-in-a-row and he managed just three more goals.
He admits the potential that season is the biggest ‘what if?’ of his life as Gers missed out on their historic title and Negri on the European Golden Boot.
Morelos scored his 22nd goal of the season - a tally Negri had incredibly reached by October 18 thanks to four goals in a 7-0 blitz of Dunfermline -at Almondvale.
He now has 10 games left this year to equal Negri’s tally and the 49-year-old hopes he smashes his impressive record.
And as he spoke to Record Sport from his home in Italy, Negri laughed: “My biggest advice to Alfredo Morelos would be to keep away from the squash court!
“Seriously, Alfredo is on fire and it is amazing for him to have scored 22 goals already. The team is playing very good football and creating many chances so you never know what can happen.
“And the bottom line is that I am a fan of Rangers so I want him to score as many goals as possible, even if that means beating my record.
“Listen, it’s just a number and records are there to be broken so I would have no problem whatsoever if Alfredo can reach 33 or even more.
“I was on the coaching staff working as a striker coach at Serie A side Udinese and I actually recommended Morelos to them at the time.
Marco Negri celebrating with Barry Ferguson in December 1997 (Image: Daily Record)
“It was about two years ago and I spoke to the board and told them how good he was and suggested they take a look at him but for whatever reason they didn’t follow up on it.
“These things happen in football - there are so many players to look at.
"But now I am so relieved that they didn’t do anything because I’m no longer at Udinese and I want him to help Rangers win some trophies.
“I told them he was young and talented and that his style would have suited Serie A but that wasn’t unusual for me to recommend players.
“I was a penalty box player and very lucky to play with great players like Gazza, Jorg Albertz nd Brian Laudrup who could assist me and I just hung around waiting for my chance.
“Alfredo Morelos is different. He is very strong, he has a big personality and is improving every season which is the most important thing.
“He scores all types of goals - left foot, right foot and headers - and he can also assist, play wide and around the box so he has so much to offer.
“I love him and he’s improved his disciplinary record which is a big step forward for him. I was different in style but the most important thing for any strike is to put the ball over the line.
“He’s scoring so many goals but also against very big clubs in the Europa League which is a high level so he’s showing everyone he’s one of the best attacking players in Europe. And he’s only 23-years-old so he has a big future ahead of him because he’s still young.”
Negri admitted it’s a huge regret that his goals ultimately counted for nothing as Rangers finished trophy-less for the first time in 13 years.
He said: “The biggest ‘what if?’ of my life is how many goals I would have scored for Rangers that season if I hadn’t picked an injury that must be one of the most bizarre in Scottish football.
“I was on fire, so confident on the pitch and playing with top class players. But I don’t ask myself any more what might could have been because it’s better that way.
“I can laugh about it now but I remember at the time we were on course for 10-in-a-row and I could have won the Golden Boot.
“Sergio was the wrong choice of playmate for squash because it should not have been a game in which winning became everything and yet with Sergio that was impossible “It was very tough but I managed to get 36 goals that season although I would have swapped them to win the league, absolutely.
“A striker scores goals to help the club and not for himself so if the team doesn’t win anything then it’s not really important.
“You would have to ask Alfredo Morelos if he feels the same about this season but I’m a supporter now and the most important thing for me isn’t for Alfredo to score 50 goals but that Rangers win trophies.”
