Kosta Nedeljkovic has revealed that his first contact with Rangers dates back to April, several months before completing his move to Ibrox.
The Serbian right-back joined Rangers from Aston Villa on a season-long loan earlier this week, with the deal containing a conditional obligation to buy.
He was immediately included in Derek McInnes' squad for Thursday night's Conference League play-off first leg against Jablonec and made his Rangers debut as a second-half substitute.
Nedeljkovic makes Ibrox debut
The 20-year-old former Red Star Belgrade man came on as Rangers secured a narrow 1-0 victory at Ibrox, with Ryan Naderi scoring the only goal of the game.
The match became more complicated for McInnes after substitute Cammy Devlin was shown a red card in the second half, just six minutes after being introduced, leaving Rangers to protect their lead with ten men.
Rangers talks started under Danny Rohl
Despite only arriving at the club days earlier, Nedeljkovic was given the opportunity to make his first appearance and has now revealed that Rangers' interest in him goes back considerably further.
Speaking after the game, the Serbian said his “first contact” with Rangers came in April.
That initial approach came while Danny Rohl was as still Rangers head coach, meaning the move has ultimately survived a change in the Ibrox dugout.
Rohl was subsequently replaced by McInnes after the German opted to move to RB Salzburg.
The full-back's arrival gives McInnes another option on the right side of his defence as Rangers continue to reshape their squad.
Nedeljkovic gives McInnes another option
Nedeljkovic arrives at Ibrox with experience in both the English Premier League and Bundesliga, as well as international football with Serbia. Rangers confirmed the loan agreement with Aston Villa earlier this week.
His competitive debut therefore came just days after his arrival, and in a European tie with Rangers now holding a slender advantage ahead of the return leg in the Czech Republic in a crucial Conference League decider.
The result means McInnes' side have taken a 1-0 lead into the second leg, although Devlin's dismissal adds another issue for the Rangers boss to manage.
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