BlueMeanie
Well-Known Member
MARCUS TAVERNIER believes his title-winning brother James has found a home at Rangers.
Tavernier has endured a rollercoaster six years in Glasgow since Mark Warburton signed him from Wigan in 2015.
Often a whipping boy for Ibrox fans, the 29-year-old has been forced to watch Celtic enjoy unprecedented supremacy in Scotland.
Now though, the right-back has written himself into Ibrox folklore after leading Gers to arguably the most important title win in their history.
Tavernier - tipped to hoover up this season's Player of the Year gongs - is entering the final year of his Rangers contract and talks are expected to open soon over an extension.
And Marcus, 22, believes it would take something special to tempt his big bro to leave Govan.
"I don’t think we realised how big the club was.
“He’s found himself a home now. Before Rangers, he didn’t have that.
“What’s not to like about playing for Rangers? He’s captain, he’s just won the league and he’s about to play Champions League football.
"Every player can only wish to do that, so for him to leave at some point would be the hardest decision he’s made.”
The Tavernier family is now steeped in Rangers - especially mum Bernie.
Marcus said: “She is Rangers’ No 1 fan at the moment, she loves the club.
“She won’t have anything green in the house and won’t say any words to do with Celtic or any of their players’ names!
"She’s really taken it to heart about how much it means to my brother and the family.”
Middlesbrough wideman Marcus hasn't met his sibling in over a year now due to the coronavirus pandemic.
However, the pair speak every day and Marcus remembers a particular video call as Celtic fell to a shock loss in Dingwall in February.
He said: “I called him on Facetime him when Celtic were playing Ross County and it was like he was playing against them in the last five minutes. He was basically managing County, telling them to clear it.
“The journey he has gone on has been incredible. For him to be captain when they stopped 10 in a row and got that trophy back, I couldn’t be happier for him.
“People don’t realise how much Rangers means to him. He’s fallen in love with the club.”