Paul Gascoigne brutally snubbed Chelsea transfer before signing for Rangers from Lazio

PAUL GASCOIGNE has revealed that he brutally snubbed Chelsea in 1995.

The Blues were after the England legend’s signature when he left Lazio 28 years ago.

Hulton Archive – GettyPaul Gascoigne became a legend at Rangers[/caption]

But Gazza, who was still adored at Spurs having played at White Hart Lane for four years, was having none of it.

So he joined Glasgow Rangers instead.

Reminiscing alongside former Gers team-mate Ally McCoist on talkSPORT last year, Gascoigne said: “I remember speaking to [then Lazio boss] Dino Zoff and asking him what clubs were interested in me at the time and he said Chelsea.

“I said ‘I ain’t going there, what’s the other one?’ He replied Aston Villa.

“And I said ‘I ain’t going there either’, and then he said Rangers. So I’m walking out of the door and I turned around and said ‘I ain’t going to Queens Park Rangers’.

“‘No, Glasgow Rangers’. I slammed the door and said to Dino get them over quickly.

“I remember [Rangers boss] Walter Smith turning up and going ‘let me tell you about the club’.

“I went ‘no, let me tell you what I’ve got in the fridge’…. and I came out with two Budweisers. He said ‘you’re signing, aren’t you?!’”

GettyGazza struck up a great friendship with Ally McCoist[/caption]

Willie Vass – The SunGascoigne is still revered at Ibrox to this day[/caption]

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The transfer prompted Gazza mania in Glasgow, with giddy fans even copying the midfielder’s bleached blond hairstyle.

He continued: “I remember meeting the chairman upstairs at the ground and he said ‘have you seen outside?’ I said, ‘no, why?’ ‘Have a look outside’.

“I just looked outside and saw all the fans. My hair was blonde, all of theirs was yellow – bless them. That was fantastic.

“I remember the gaffer saying ‘you’ll have a laugh, be serious when you play, but you’ll have a laugh with the lads in the dressing room’.”

Gascoigne won two Scottish Premiership titles, a Scottish Cup and Scottish League Cup during his three glittering years in Glasgow.