Fabio Silva could have joined Celtic on loan in January - but he chose Rangers.
That's according to his dad, who claims the 21-year-old rejected a switch from Wolves to the Scottish Premiership champions.
Brendan Rodgers is said to have wanted the Portuguese Under-21 international to bolster his squad during the winter window.
As things turned out, the one-time £35m player opted to join Rangers. He scored six goals in 33 appearances for Philippe Clement.
Jorge Silva says he had options to join either of Glasgow's big two in January.
And further discussing how things panned out at Rangers, he hit out at his son's critics.
He told the Sunday Mail: “At the beginning, Fabio had the opportunity to choose other clubs, even in Scotland. Could he have gone to Celtic? Yes, he could have gone there.
"Many people told him to go there because the way they play is maybe closer to Fabio’s abilities. But he chose Rangers.
“People spoke to us about his religion because he’s a Catholic but Fabio doesn’t show that to everyone. Even so, he told me as his father that he just wanted to play for Rangers.
“He loved the club and the fans. He just doesn’t understand that after one game (the Old Firm derby), everyone changed and went against the boy. It was a good time for him at Rangers. All the staff there helped him.
“But when I was at the cup final recently, people found out I was his father and said to me, ‘Tell him not to dive.’ I know that’s just emotion and football – but I don’t understand it.
“I don’t understand why old players from Rangers – and even some of the fans – criticised him after the Celtic game. It was a huge match but Rangers did nothing before Fabio won the penalty.
“He put them into the game yet afterwards everyone was against him. I don’t understand that. Whenever Fabio had the ball he always went at his opponent [Alistair Johnston] one-on-one and he provoked situations.
"He created another goal for the team and it was offside. But the supporters seemed to be against him afterwards.”
