Mendes delighted to stay at Rangers

03 February 2009 13:56
The SPL club made it clear they were willing to offload at least one of their star performers for financial reasons last month - but reports claimed Mendes was the one player who was off-limits.[LNB]The midfielder has impressed since his switch from Portsmouth in the summer and those displays led to speculation Bolton were keen to take him back to England's top flight.[LNB]But, speaking after a quiet deadline day which saw Rangers retain all their key personnel, Mendes revealed he was happy with the club's decision to snub any offers for himself.[LNB]"It is closed now," he said.[LNB]"Just to make it clear, as for my part and the club's part, there was a clear intention, both of us were thinking the same way.[LNB]"January is always a month of speculation with all the talk about possible transfers.[LNB]"The main thing now is that it's finished, it's closed, and we are looking forward to the rest of the season."[LNB]Mendes was unwilling to entertain any talk of a return to the Barclays Premier League one day, adding: "There is no point in talking about it. Rangers is the main thing now.[LNB]"We are looking forward to the rest of the season and I think we have a great chance to win the title."[LNB]Leading scorer Kris Boyd, goalkeeper Allan McGregor and skipper Barry Ferguson were all tipped to quit Ibrox over the course of the month.[LNB]But there was to be limited deadline day drama, with loan moves for Charlie Adam and Alan Gow to Blackpool and Norwich, respectively, the only departures.[LNB]"All the talk in the newspapers and the press almost every day can cause a little bit of doubt in the air," said Mendes.[LNB]"I'm glad it's finished and that's the group we have until the end of the season.[LNB]"I think everything is the same. Even before January, we knew what we wanted and what we needed to do.[LNB]"Of course, if any player had left in January, he would have been missed. But no-one went and we have the same team, so everything is open to us.[LNB]"We have a very good group of players and we all want the same, so the next four months will be interesting."[LNB]Mendes is well aware a win over Celtic in their next Clydesdale Bank Premier League game would allow Rangers to return to pole position in the title race.[LNB]But, right now, the Portugal international is relishing a break from league business when AC Milan come calling in tomorrow night's glamour friendly at Ibrox.[LNB]He said: "It's a great game just to take the league pressure off.[LNB]"It's a game for the fans to enjoy against a great club and top-class players.[LNB]"We will just relax and enjoy the game and hopefully it will be a good show for everyone."[LNB][LNB][LNB] Scottish Premier Winner 2008/09. Click here to bet.[LNB] 

Source: Team_Talk