Moussa Dembele claims Rangers fans sent him 'death threats' before Celtic derby clash

Former Celtic star Moussa Dembele claims he was sent death threats from Rangers fans before Old Firm derbies.

The former Hoops hitman enjoyed a successful spell in Glasgow under Brendan Rodgers, scoring a hat-trick against their bitter rivals in his debut in the famous derby. Dembele would go on to score at Ibrox and win back-to-back Trebles during a storied stint at Celtic before making a big-money move to Lyon in his homeland. Now Dembele turns out for former Rangers boss Steven Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq and admits his departure from the Rhone club was somewhat acrimonious.

In a tell-all interview after sealing his move to Saudi Arabia, the 27-year-old has also broken his silence on the death threats he claimed he received when playing for the Hoops. He told Foot Mercato: "In football as in life, when you feel appreciated and supported you are better. Hostility does not scare me when it comes from the adversary.

"I would even say that it stimulates me. I experienced death threats from Rangers fans before the Glasgow derbies and that didn't stop me from doing the job.

"But when the hostility comes from your own supporters and it becomes hatred, that's a different story. My last season in Lyon was complicated. I had started well despite the obstacles put in the way by management. I admit that I should and could have done better. But that wasn't the case. I am lucid and objective about my services."

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