You can’t help but love Alfredo Morelos.
As far as I’m concerned, he and Rangers are perfect for each other. It reminds me of when I moved to Ibrox.
Every time he pulls on that blue shirt, it’s as if he’s found THE club for him.
It was the same for me. I felt so comfortable at Rangers almost immediately.
I had the full backing of the gaffer, Walter Smith, and if he hadn’t left the club when he did, I believe I would have been the first ever foreigner to get a testimonial at Ibrox.
Seriously, I’d have finished my career at Rangers if Walter had stayed. There was no reason for me to leave.
And that’s why I don’t think Morelos should be playing anywhere else next season.
He was outstanding again on Thursday in the 3-0 win over Red Star Belgrade on another amazing European night at Ibrox.
Red Star are a dangerous side but I think Rangers can score in Serbia and go through.
James Tavernier was unbelievable and the turning point in the game was Allan McGregor’s penalty save.
To do that at 40? Come on, he’s just phenomenal.
But Morelos had another great night. He was too strong for their defenders, he led the line brilliantly and got his usual Europa League goal.
Gio van Bronckhorst has given him the freedom to play the way he wants – and Morelos is repaying him with goals.
When I watch him at Ibrox, it’s clear just how much he’s loved by the Rangers supporters. And it looks like he loves playing for them too.
But at the end of this season, he’ll have just one year left on his contract.
The Rangers board will already be thinking about this - and a lot might depend on whether they win the title.
If they have £40million Champions League money coming in, they can afford to offer Alfredo a new deal to stay.
If not, they might need money to bring players in and he’s one asset who could make them a huge profit.
It will come down to the boy himself too, of course. But I’d say to Alfredo, he won’t find another club where he’ll be accepted and loved like he is at Rangers.
If he has the chance to play in the Champions League for Rangers, it’s a no-brainer.
At the moment, for the player and the club, it would be amazing if he signed a new long-term contract and I think Rangers will be trying to plan for this right now.
Morelos is still only 25, so he’s got plenty of time left at the top level.
At times, he’s been a bit of a bad boy who played on the edge, but I don’t care about that. Strikers will always be judged on goals and Morelos is now Rangers’ all-time top European scorer.
That speaks for itself.
But the key thing is that connection that he’s got with the supporters. You don’t get that kind of adulation at other clubs and I’m proof of that.
If he stays at Rangers and scores more goals he will be remembered forever by these fans, just like an Ally McCoist or a Michael Mols.
Every ex-player I talk to says the same. If you give everything you’ve got at Glasgow Rangers, you’ll always be loved and welcomed back.
Genuinely, I don’t think that happens at ANY other club. Ask Ronald and Frank de Boer – and they played for some big teams like Ajax and Barcelona.
They didn’t love playing for any of them like they did for Rangers.
I have a strong connection with Hamburg in Germany, but the support I get from the Rangers fans is on another level, totally different.
I had a good spell there, I’m sure most Hamburg fans would say that, but there’s no comparison to Rangers.
And as a player, maybe you don’t realise it until you leave.
That’s what Morelos might have to think about in the summer
During my time at Ibrox, I knew how good I had it with the fans behind me.
If you score goals, you’re adored by the fans and that’s what Morelos has.
He could probably go to a club in Spain or somewhere like that, with more money on offer.
But is he going to get the same feeling he has at Rangers? I don’t think so.
There’s no reason for him not to stay at Rangers – unless a huge club comes in offering him crazy wages.
He’s now known across Europe. Believe me, everyone knows about Alfredo Morelos now.
And if he’s not on the target list of some of the biggest clubs around, there’s something wrong.
But if Rangers can win the title and get that Champions League money, he should be going nowhere.
