UMAR SADIQ admits the chance to work with Steven Gerrard was too good to turn down after moving from Roma to Rangers.

The striker has become the ninth signing of the summer at Ibrox and put pen to paper on a loan deal until the end of the campaign.

Sadiq has had spells at Bologna, Torino and NAC Breda in recent seasons and has now opted to leave the Stadio Olimpico once again this term.

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And the 21-year-old is eager to get down to business.

Sadiq said: “I am [excited] because it is a historical club and I am very excited and can’t wait to start.

“I [heard of the interest] last month when I was on holiday in Nigeria. I had a phone call from my agent and he was talking about Rangers and I was like ‘OK, let’s go and see what will happen’. The plan was to stay at Roma this season but when Steven Gerrard called, you can’t say no.

“When he called me, it was like two weeks ago, if I can remember. From then I started changing my mind and I had to decide. 

“When he called, you can’t say no. Even if the plan was to stay with Roma this season.

“He told me that he had an interest in me and told me about the team. I know that Rangers is the most successful team in the world.

“He told about the team, about the players, that everyone would be at my side if I came here and would help me. 

Read more: Chris Woods: Very difficult to compare Graeme Souness and Steven Gerrard taking over at Rangers

“He will help me go forward in my career and you don’t have to think twice when someone says that.”

The capture of Sadiq is another boost to boss Gerrard as he prepares for his competitive bow  against FK Shkupi on Thursday night.

The Nigerian can play across the front line and is determined to make his mark in the Light Blues attack.

“I don’t know, I can’t say anything about myself,” he told RangersTV.

“But [I am] a hard-working player who always wants to help the team.

“I don’t know, I am just myself. In Nigeria, some people compare me with the Nigerian legend Kanu and Emmanuel Adebayor. 

“It is an honour for me when someone talks about Adebayor or Kanu, but I think about myself.

“In football, you can never say what is going to happen but hard work pays and with the hard work that I am doing to do I think I will be successful.”