Ally McCoist is hoping new signing Juan Manuel Ortiz makes as big an impact at Rangers as his fellow Spaniards Carlos Cuellar and Nacho Novo did during their time in Govan.
The Ibrox club confirmed the signing of the 29-year-old midfielder from Almeria on a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee on Wednesday, just before jetting out to Germany from Glasgow airport for a pre-season trip. Both Cuellar and Novo were fans' favourites during their respective times at Rangers, and both were key players in the run to the UEFA Cup final in 2008.
McCoist said: "That would be great. Carlos said some nice things about us to Juan and hopefully that helped in terms of the lad signing. But if he is as successful as those two lads that would be great."
McCoist's first signing since he took over as manager from Walter Smith revealed that Cuellar, now at Aston Villa and whom he had played alongside during a loan spell at Osasuna, had sold him on the move to Scotland.
"When the chance came up to come to Rangers, I spoke to Carlos about it and he had only good things to say," Ortiz said on Rangers' official website.
"He told me the club is massive and that he was very, very happy here so he told me it was a move I should make."
The signing of Ortiz comes in the same week that goalkeeper Allan McGregor and utility player Steven Whittaker signed new six and five-year deals respectively and Steven Davis gave a heavy hint that he is set to join the duo by extending his current deal which has a year to run.
Asked about negotiations, the Northern Ireland midfielder said: "Still ongoing. I think it's just a matter of getting things sorted and hopefully getting things done and dusted.
"I'm not sure how long (it will take), I wouldn't put a timescale on it but obviously I'm happy here so hopefully we will get something sorted out."
Source: PA
