John Lundstram reveals Rangers pain that will never leave him as he savours Euro highs in emotional farewell

John Lundstram insists he leaves Rangers with a heavy heart and regret that he didn't manage to win a league title.

The Scouser has departed Ibrox after his contract expired and is reportedly set to sign for Turkish Super Lig outfit Trabzonspor, along with fellow Ibrox departee Borna Barisic. Lundstram joined Gers in the summer after their historic 55th Premiership title win under Steven Gerrard, but found himself down the pecking order after Gerrard left for Aston Villa and was replaced by Giovanni van Bronckhorst.

But Lundstram played his way back into contention and became a pivotal part of the side that reached the 2022 Europa League Final, scoring the decisive goal in the epic semi-final triumph over RB Leipzig. He also lifted the Scottish Cup that season, and added the League Cup to his winners' medal collection last December. But Lundstram admits he failed in the objective that he set himself upon arrival in Glasgow, which was finishing top of the pile in Scotland.

He posted on Instagram: "It’s with a heavy heart, I say goodbye to the place I’ve fell in love with @rangersfc. I didn’t know when I walked through the doors, of a place I had no connection to that after three years it would have touched me like it has, it’s well and truly gripped me and now I’ll never be able to stay away!

"After some amazing highs of the 2 cup wins, qualifying for the Champions League, and the unforgettable Europa league final run, and other amazing nights, days and memories, it will always pain me that I didn’t achieve what I came up here to do and win a league title! But I am extremely proud knowing I gave it absolutely everything I could every single day!

"So, Thank you to Steven, Gio, Michael and Phillipe. Thank you to my