Celtic new boy Colin Kazim-Richards has insisted that he will never join Rangers, although he once famously swapped Fenerbahce for Galatasaray.
The striker, who joined Celtic on a two-and-a-half-year deal from Feyenoord during the January transfer window, signed for Galatasaray from their bitter rivals Fenerbahce in 2011.
And Kazim-Richards explained that the move from one Turkish giant to another bore testimony to his strong character.
“When I went to Galatasaray, it was a problem”, he was quoted as saying by the Scotland Herald.
“That’s a big rivalry. But when I played for Fenerbahce, I was a Fenerbahce player. When I went to Galatasaray, I was a Galatasaray player.
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“I gave everything for both teams. But that was a transfer that was difficult for both sets of fans. It’s the first time someone had moved straight from one club to the other. They asked me if I wanted security and I said no.
“I think that would have drawn more attention – walking down the road with five Turkish security guards! I got a lot of threats. But it shows what kind of character I am. I did what I had to do. I didn’t look back.”
However, Kazim-Richards, who has already found the back of the net once in two appearances for Celtic, stated that he will never consider leaving the Hoops for Rangers as he intends to win trophies with the Scottish champions.
“You have to respect all kinds of people. Me? I’m very respectful. I’m not even thinking about Rangers”, he added.
“I didn’t come to Celtic because of the Old Firm. I came to Celtic because it’s Celtic. I want to win stuff.
“I want to go down in the history books here. I don’t back down from a challenge. I’m not one to hide away. But I won’t ever go to Rangers. I won’t do that.”
Kazim-Richards, whose present deal with Celtic runs until 2018, scored four goals in 16 appearances in all competitions for Feyenoord this season.
The 29-year-old has 37 caps and two goals for Turkey to his name and has also represented the nation at Under-21 and Under-23 levels.
