"It felt like a different place" - Todd Cantwell makes honest Rangers claim after Blackburn Rovers move | OneFootball

The 26-year-old has given some insight into the reasons behind his summer move

Todd Cantwell has admitted that Rangers did not feel like the right place for him to be, after leaving the club to join Blackburn Rovers this summer.

However, the attacking midfielder has insisted that he never said he did not want to play for the Scottish Premiership side.

Cantwell first joined Rangers back in the 2023 January transfer window, joining from Norwich City at a time when Michael Beale was manager of the club.

Beale was replaced last October by current 'Gers boss Philippe Clement, and the 26-year-old did remain a regular feature in the side under the Belgian.

However, Cantwell would still move on this summer, securing a return to the Championship with a move to Ewood Park, which he now been speaking about.

Todd Cantwell discusses swapping Rangers for Blackburn

Although he did help the club to the Scottish League Cup title last season, the attacking midfielder still came in for scrutiny from Rangers fans at times.

That included for his social media activity, and was further enhanced when Clement returned to a press conference earlier this summer, to inform the media Cantwell had asked to leave the club.

He would indeed get his move on the final day of the window, when he signed for Blackburn for an undisclosed fee.

The attacker has put pen to paper on a three-year deal with the Championship club, securing his future at Ewood Park until the end of the 2026/27 season.

Cantwell has now been speaking about his decision to make that move, and explaining his decision to leave Rangers, he told Sky Sports News:

"Things changed around the club and obviously with the manager going, the backroom staff go with them so, it felt like a different place.

"When a new manager comes in they have to put their stamp on things and I think we had a bit of a bounce where last season we got ourselves in a really good position to go on and do well.

"Like I said I've got full respect for the manager and management at Rangers now, but I didn't believe it was the right place for me to be. "They are personal reasons, but I think you don't have to look too far behind tactics and the way a team plays and the way you get the best version of yourself. "I think at 26 if you're not sure what the best changing room for you to be in is then ultimately you'll probably bounce around quite a lot.

"So I made a decision, it's a bold decision, and let's see how it unfolds."

When asked about that move by Clement to publicly reveal Cantwell's desire to leave Rangers, the attacking midfielder added:

"It was his decision to tell the press that that was my decision. We had spoken internally for a while, before the season had finished, and ultimately we couldn't find a happy medium for both.

"Listen, the one thing I'm desperate to clear up, which I touched on, on my Instagram was that I never ever said I didn't want to play for Rangers Football Club.

"That never came out of my mouth and never would."

Cantwell has joined a Blackburn side who currently sit fifth in the Championship table, having taken eight points from four league games so far this season.

He could make his debut for his new side after the international break on Saturday 14th September, when John Eustace's side host Bristol City at Ewood Park.

A big move for Cantwell to make

Some may see this as Cantwell taking something of a risk in leaving Rangers to join Blackburn this summer.

At Ibrox, he would have been playing European football, and competing for trophies, whereas he is now at a side many had expected to face another Championship relegation battle this season.

That perhaps highlights how much he felt he needed to get out of Ibrox this summer, as does the suggestion to he took a pay cut to make this move happen.

With Blackburn making a strong start to the season though, Cantwell may at least hope that he will not be battling to avoid the drop into League One over the course of the campaign.

Indeed, if he can rediscover the form he has shown in England in the past, he could be a major asset in helping the club push up the table this season.

It also appears as though Cantwell and Clement did not see eye to eye, so someone such as John Eustace could be good for him.

The Blackburn head coach has an excellent reputation for man-management, and the 26-year-old has already credited him for his part in bringing him to Ewood Park.

As a result, Eustace may well be a boss who can bring the best out of the attacker, which could then provide a major boost for everyone involved with this move.

With that in mind, while recent history means this is a gamble for both Blackburn and Cantwell, it does feel like it is at the very least, an exciting one for both parties.