By Gareth James
Aaron Ramsey should still be playing at Juventus, claims his former Wales teammate Joe Ledley.
Ramsey completed a deadline day move from Turin to Glasgow on Monday where he will become the biggest name in Scottish football after signing on loan with Rangers until the end of the season.
The Wales midfielder had been considered surplus to requirements by Juve, but his former Euro 2016 colleague Ledley – once of Celtic – reckons Ramsey should still be playing for the Italian giants rather than appearing in the Scottish Premiership.
“I still firmly believe that Aaron should be playing in that Juventus team,” said Ledley.
“I have seen them a few times and feel that he would put a lot of improvement into the side and squad.”
Ramsey, 31, has not appeared under manager Massimiliano Allegri since October and was desperate to secure match action before he attempts to help guide Wales through the World Cup play-offs in March and on to the finals in Qatar.
But Ledley admits he is among those surprised Ramsey has chosen to move to Rangers, rather than take up offers that were believed to be on the table from Aston Villa, Rangers, Burnley, Crystal Palace and Wolves.
Ledley added: “I don’t know what has happened behind the scenes. He hasn’t told me about that. I just know he needed to go out and play football.
The thought of Aaron Ramsey in a home changing room which has a picture of the queen hanging on the wall doesn’t sit right.
Dim diolch.
— Cymru Watch 🏴 (@CymruWatch) January 31, 2022
“When I spoke to him, I said that, if he was go out, it had to be right time and the right club for him.
“I went onto my social media on Monday morning and there were people saying tell him not to go and I’m thinking: What is everyone on about?
“Then I had a look for myself and saw that he was being linked with a move to Rangers.
“I spoke to him a few weeks ago and was looking at trying to move in order to get regular football. He needs to be playing regular football because he is one of the greatest Welsh midfielders that we have ever had.
“I worked with him at Cardiff during our time there and obviously the Wales team. He is top class and, in my opinion, he’s a little bit disrespected in the game.
“I cover a lot of Wales games and, in the last two without Gareth Bale in the team, Aaron was just unbelievable.
“He hadn’t even been playing regular football at the time and he was still box-to-box. He scored in the matches and he was up and down the pitch.
“His workrate for the team, creating chances and he just never stops.”
🆕 #RangersFC are delighted to announce the loan signing of @Cymru international midfielder @aaronramsey from @juventusfc until the end of the season.
👉 https://t.co/W444lJrdyP pic.twitter.com/8fR8Rqa0OL
— Rangers Football Club (@RangersFC) January 31, 2022
Ramsey could now make a dramatic debut for Rangers in their Old Firm derby clash at Celtic on Wednesday.
Rangers currently sit two points above Celtic at the top of the table.
“I am really pleased to be joining a club like Rangers,” the 71-cap midfielder told the Rangers website.
“There is so much to look forward to between now and May.
“I had a number of offers on the table, but none matched the magnitude of this club, with European football and the chance to play in front of 50,000 fans every other week.
“I have had some fantastic conversations with the manager and (sporting director) Ross Wilson, and I’m really looking forward to working with both of them, and to meeting the supporters.”
Manager, Giovanni van Bronckhorst, added: “I’m absolutely delighted that we have been able to add a player of Aaron’s quality, experience and leadership to our squad.
Kieffer Moore to Bournemouth
Aaron Ramsey to Rangers
Boris Johnson to stay in office
Worst transfer deadline day ever.
— David Owens (@asoundreaction) January 31, 2022
“As soon as it was mooted as a possibility, I was really keen for us to try everything to get the deal done, and huge credit must go to Ross and to the Board for the work they have put in on this.”
Sky Sports pundit and former Arsenal star Paul Merson highlighted the irony of Scottish football helping Ramsey prepare for what could be a vital World Cup play-off final against Scotland.
“Wales are going to be playing against Scotland in the World Cup qualifiers, and a Scottish team are going to take him on to get game time to try to knock Scotland out!” said Merson.
“He was disappointing in Serie A. He got behind the eight ball early doors, got an injury, and I think when you get a move at a big club like that you’ve got to start well.
“I’m shocked there’s not a lot more Premier League clubs in for him.
“He’s a midfield player who scores goals, a good player. I don’t know a team he wouldn’t improve.
“There’s no Frank Lampards around any more scoring goals from midfield like that. You look at Newcastle buying players left, right and centre – he’d be the best they bought by a country mile.”
