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Exclusive: Thomas Buffell warns Rangers they'll miss him as he quits for Cercle

Jul 2 2008 By Gary Ralston

THOMAS BUFFEL quit Scotland last night to join Cercle Bruges - and warned Rangers they'll regret letting him go.

The Belgian has agreed a 12-month deal with the team where he kicked-off his career.

But he revealed he knocked back a club already in the Champions League group stage.

Buffel reckons he needs a season of regular top-team action before he can push for the top again after 18 months out with a knee injury.

The midfielder returned at the start of last season but failed to force his way into Ibrox boss Walter Smith's plans.

Rangers were also reluctant to pay an estimated £250,000 to former club Feyenoord that would have kicked in after a set number of appearances.

Buffel refused to put the boot into Smith but is ready to prove his worth again on the big stage.

He said: "I didn't knock on the manager's door last season. I wasn't going to beg. You have to keep your dignity.

"If someone plays me it has to be because they believe in my ability. If not I'll move on and show it somewhere else.

"I missed pre-season last summer and when I returned the team was more or less formed so I didn't really get a chance to show how fit I was.

"It is a shame I will not be able to show the Rangers fans the player I will now become.

"There was also the issue with the clause in my contract but I don't want to talk about that. I'm not sad about leaving because this is football but I'll remember the nice times from my first two years with Rangers and the support the fans gave me.

"I'm only 27 and I still have time to invest this year in myself and play a lot of games before moving up again.

"I had other offers from bigger clubs, including one already in the Champions League.

"But I haven't played for 18 months and it's important I get a decent season in an environment I know well.

"Hopefully, I will be back soon with a club challenging at the top level in Europe. But I have to take this step first."

Buffel cost £2.3million when he joined Rangers in 2005 but the club have allowed him to cut and run despite having a year left on his contract.

He said: "Cercle Bruges is like home. All my family and friends are around the club and I spent seven years there as a youth before I moved to Holland.

"If they were fighting to avoid relegation every year I probably would not go. But they have turned the corner and want to reach the top of Belgian football.

"They finished fourth in the league last season, above FC Bruges, and have new owners with big plans.

"They must prove themselves again and hopefully I can help them achieve their goals."

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What I'm getting from that is if a player is unlucky enough to pick a bad injury pre season, they'd be as well sitting out the rest of the season as the team will already be 'formed'?

Hope Walter's not really as stubborn as that!

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I wish Buffel all the best he was integral to the 2005 league win and was one of Rangers most creative players why Walter didn't give him more of a shout over a complete donkey like Faye is a mystery.

I'll always remember him as a great Ranger and a great player.

All the best mate.

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I wish Buffel all the best he was integral to the 2005 league win and was one of Rangers most creative players why Walter didn't give him more of a shout over a complete donkey like Faye is a mystery.

I'll always remember him as a great Ranger and a great player.

All the best mate.

Richard Gough and John Greig were great Gers, I'm not sure we should be putting Buffel in that category regardless of how much I liked him.

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What I'm getting from that is if a player is unlucky enough to pick a bad injury pre season, they'd be as well sitting out the rest of the season as the team will already be 'formed'?

Hope Walter's not really as stubborn as that!

I think the Broadfoot and Miller situations show he is as stubborn as that.

We all know Broadfoot is good enough for St Mirren at best but Wattie brought him to Rangers so even though only a blind man would fail to see he's rank Wattie continues with a boy with no pace and only the basic footballing skills as our right attacking full back.

We all know the Miller story

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I am angered that we let a player of his ability leave when he is the type of player that we are crying out for.

I am a big supporter of Walter Smith but he has fcuked up with Buffel.

I wonder what would have happend if he had a good run in the side and played in the Uefa Cup final??

Shame!

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Interesting, Buffel confirms the story about his clause.

If a few hundred thousand is why Smith wouldn't touch him...

Buffel confirmed the clause in his contract a few months ago mate.

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