Brad Friedel exclusive: Lionel Messi could play in MLS for another five years.

Speaking exclusively to Jackpot City Casino, goalkeeping icon Brad Friedel has given his thoughts on the Premier League, Champions League, the USMNT and more.

The former Spurs, Aston Villa and Liverpool star has discussed the futures of Lionel Messi, Jesse Marsch and Harry Kane as well as Folarin Balogun’s Premier League links.

Other topics include the current strength of MLS, why he turned down the chance to join Celtic or Rangers and how Liverpool can prepare for life after Alisson.

Q: Will De Zerbi be under pressure, or will the board allow him more time to work things out do you think?

“I'm pleased to see Spurs spending, I think they overspent on transfer fees and some wages, but the players they've brought in have obviously helped the squad.

“I think the poor start to the season won't be a reflection on how the actual season goes in its entirety. I think if they don't finish in European places, the board will be upset.

“I'm sure the manager will come under some pressure because of the amount of money they've spent. They're over the £300m mark, so when you spend that amount of money, and I'm sure De Zerbi had a lot of say in the background on the players coming in, of course if results aren't coming, he's going to be under pressure, but he knows that.

“I think he's a proven manager. I think he knows what he wants from his system. Sometimes when you make a lot of player changes, it takes a little while for them to click. Other times it happens quite quickly, but I think you increase the risk of it taking just that little while longer.”

Q: Tottenham’s new signings are yet to make an impact, how worried should the club be in what looks like another poor season?

“I wouldn't be seeing too many alarm bells as of yet and I'm sure they still have a couple of things off the field in the changing room they probably want to fix as well, because what's happened over the last 24 months, you can't fix in just one window.

“One of the things Tottenham has a hard time with, and they've had it all the way back from when I was there, —is competing financially on a big stage with the top clubs.

“But when push comes to shove, most of the players still would rather go to Man City, Man United, Liverpool, Arsenal, or Chelsea. So what would tip the scales most of the time is paying a bigger pay packet.

“That's fine if the player is 100 percent committed to the cause, but you run into this conundrum, is the player only coming here for the money? And don't get me wrong, players wherever they go are going to want a good pay packet.

“But if you're overpaying, are you getting the right attitude in the changing room? That's one of the conundrums they've had for a long time.

“They had an incredible amount of success under Daniel Levy by recruiting the likes of Kyle Walker as he was building, Luka Modrić as he was building his career, Gareth Bale as he was building his career, and Harry Kane as he was building his career, getting them to their peak and then selling for top dollar.

“It's a lot different when you're going into the market and competing against PSG, Bayern Munich, the top Italian clubs, the top German clubs, and then the other top Premier League clubs for the same player. Now you get into a completely different type of negotiation. So sometimes you're not always going to get the player for the right reasons when you do that.

“That's the predicament that they're finding themselves in. I still think they'll be fine. I still think they'll be on the cusp of whether it's the Champions League places, on that last spot, or the Europa League or Europa Conference.

“I still think they'll be there or thereabouts with De Zerbi's track record, but I don't think it's ultimately as easy to recruit players as people think just because you have the cash.”

Q: Tottenham are yet to score in the league this season after massive summer spending, why do you think that is?

“I think what De Zerbi did, and I don't know if this was calculated, but I'm assuming it was, they went from the back forward when they were signing players. I also know just from personal experience that signing players up front is more difficult, and it gets into some real sums of money.

“I believe Arsenal were after Osimhen as well, and I saw some rumors that Tottenham may have been. He's at Galatasaray now, I was at Beşiktaş as sporting director there, so I know what he was earning. It's an enormous amount of money, so that gets into a completely different level of conversation.

“I think De Zerbi wanted to build the backbone of his team. He likes to build out from the back and likes his center-backs to be able to drive into midfield if he needs them to, so he likes them to be comfortable.

“I think he was trying to sort out the relationship between his back four and the midfield before he went up front, unless they were trying for strikers and just couldn't get the deals over the line.

“But that is an area of concern at any time through the season. If you go three, four, or five games without scoring a goal, it's something you need to address. I'm sure they are trying to address it in training and building confidence in the players they are going to put up front.”

Q: After such a huge spend, how devastating would it be for Tottenham if they don’t reach Europe this season?

“There's a whole host of reasons you don't want two years away from Europe. Over the years, people have come up with comments like the Europa League and Europa Conference are a nuisance. I've always disagreed with that.

“I think you always want to be in European competition. Sometimes your squad gets a little bit thin, look at Crystal Palace, who have actually had great success in Europe recently, but you could have a much thinner squad than, let's say, Man City going into these competitions.

“But there are only a couple of ways that you can increase your revenue streams as a Premier League club, European competition is one of them, and matchday revenue is another.

“The thought of not being in Europe for X amount of years, let's just say three, four, or five, that'll affect Tottenham's ability to buy more players in the future and invest more into the club, because when you get into the Champions League especially, it's an incredible financial resource to be able to invest back into the club.

“Also, regarding the type of player that you recruit when they expect to be playing in European competition, you are recruiting winners, players that are used to winning, expect to win, and know how to conduct themselves to win.

“So I think missing out on Europe for another season would not necessarily be a disaster, but I don't think it would be welcome from the board, put it that way.”

Q: Which English team do you think will do best in the Champions League?

“I think Arsenal are best suited right now for the Champions League and for the Premier League. I think Mikel Arteta finally got over that hump of winning the league, made it to a final, and then increased the quality of his squad.

“When you have the mentality of winning and you bring other quality players into the fold, you're obviously giving yourself another great chance to be successful on both fronts. All credit to Mikel Arteta, Arsenal have figured out a way to score goals when they aren't playing at their best, and they're very dangerous on set pieces as we all know.

“They have one of the world's best goalkeepers, very good center-backs and a very well-rounded squad. I think Man City's squad is very good as well. You just have that little unknown of a new manager because you've had Pep Guardiola there for so long, how the players are going to adapt to him over the course of a whole season, when the going gets tough or when they lose two or three on the bounce.

“They could come through it really well because they do have quality players, I'm not saying they won't, it's just a bit of an unknown.”

Q: Who are your top three goalies in the Champions League?

“The top three goalkeepers in the Champions League? I would put Diogo Costa, Thibaut Courtois, and David Raya up there.

“I've always loved Alisson over the years, he may just be behind them. I think Donnarumma is a few steps down from the others. And obviously the World Cup winner with Spain, Unai Simón, is not in the Champions League, but he's an outstanding goalkeeper as we all saw and was keeping Raya on the bench, which is not an easy thing to do.

“I like those three the best right now. Over the years I've loved Neuer and Oblak, they've been outstanding servants for their clubs, but Raya, Costa, and Courtois are probably the top ones for me at this particular moment in time.”

Q: What are your hopes for Liverpool both domestically and in Europe this season?

“This is a new manager, a new system. I think last season was turbulent from the summer, unfortunately. As more comes out, you see that there was more to the relationship between Mohamed Salah and Arne Slot.

“Whenever you have back-and-forth or any sort of negativity between one of the greatest ever players for Liverpool Football Club and the manager, it's tough to win that battle unless you win every single game. I also think at the time Liverpool were hitting a bit of form, a lot of that was down to Hugo Ekitike, and then he got injured. Iraola had a lot to do sort of on the mental focus of the team in the summer.

“I think one of the easier things was he didn't have to deal with a legend like Trent leaving, with all the permutations around fans' feelings and him going to Real Madrid. He didn't have to deal with that, nor did he have to deal with Mo Salah, because he knew he was already gone.

“So that's the good news. But now it's on to a new system. He's an excellent coach, and when you're a very good coach, the only thing you have to navigate through is the pressure of being at a massive club.

“Managing Liverpool is a lot different than managing Bournemouth, with all due respect to Bournemouth, who have done an incredible job in the Premier League, it's a completely different fan base and expectation.

“I think this season, getting into the top four and a quarter-final in the Champions League would be great for Liverpool, and then really build in the summer. If you can get a target in January, which is difficult, go ahead and try, but then let's see what an Iraola team can do.

“I'm not a big fan of swapping and changing coaches and staff all the time, I think it brings a lot of chaos to clubs. So I hope he has the backing of all the players, and if he does, I hope the board backs him.

“I'm a Liverpool supporter as you probably know, so I want him to do incredibly well. I don't see them winning too much this year, maybe an FA Cup or a League Cup, but if they can build towards next year, I think we could have some exciting times at Anfield with Iraola.”

Q: Do you think Folarin Balogun would have been a success at Everton, and has he got what it takes to be a big hit in the Premier League?

“I think Folarin Balogun knows the Premier League and has the quality to play in it. Everton was probably a perfect-sized club for him, to be honest, one that carries a lot of pressure from its history and tradition, but isn't expected to be in that top six, and has one of the very best managers to ever be in the Premier League in David Moyes, who would have been excellent for him.

“Putting my United States hat on, I was sorry to see the deal fall through because I think it would have been great for him and the US. Everton lost out on a very good person on and off the field and a very good player. I don't know why it collapsed other than what I've read.

“I don't know Balogun personally, so I've never spoken to him. I really don't know if there was a last-minute renegotiation from Everton or if Balogun just didn't like the feel of it.

“It's all speculation, but it's a real shame, he had flown there, so there was clearly an intention to get the deal done.”

Q: Who in your view is the next face of American football after Christian Pulisic? Is it Balogun?

“The face of the team in my opinion is more of a three-pronged face with Chris Richards, Tyler Adams, and Weston McKennie. I think all three of those guys are going to be around for another cycle.

“Balogun showed his worth as a number nine, but there is some competition there for him. Christian Pulisic, I think, has to get over his fitness concerns.

“We really only saw the best of Christian in the first 35 to 40 minutes of the Paraguay match, and then he got injured and we didn't really see him anywhere near his best when he played again, or he wasn't on the pitch at all.

“With someone who has a lot of injury concerns, I'm not sure if you can build the national team around him. Even though I coached a lot of the '98s, '99s, and 2000s when I was with the under-19 national team, he had already moved up to the senior team under Jürgen.

“So I don't know him personally, but I wish everyone would just stop talking about him and let him get fit and perform. I'm just saying let him quietly become great. But the world doesn't work like that, and because of his transfer fee when he went from Dortmund to Chelsea, everyone wants to talk about him.

“There are many US players over the years who, if sold today, would have commanded the same transfer fee. For the US's sake, I hope he can have an injury-free four-year cycle and play at his best, because when fully fit, he's the natural starter in that position.

“At this moment in time, when everyone is fully fit, I don't see anyone as capable as him. We have a few younger players coming up, but they won't be anywhere near ready to play against Spain, England, Belgium, Germany, Brazil, or Argentina in the knockout stages of major tournaments.

“We have a few who are building their careers, but through the next four-year cycle, I hope Tim Weah has an incredible run. I hope Sergiño Dest keeps getting better, and I hope Brenden Aaronson keeps improving with his playing time at Leeds. I just hope Christian can get on the field and stay injury-free.”

Q: Were you surprised to see Mauricio Pochettino stay on as USMNT manager and do you think he can lead USA to the quarter-finals or better at the next World Cup?

“I wasn't surprised to see Pochettino stay on, I was about 50/50. He's the type of head coach who will get offers all over the place. It seemed like he was really enjoying himself during the World Cup, with the exception of the Belgium match.

“It's no shame to lose to Belgium in a World Cup, and I think all the off-field antics really hurt the US team in that game, everything was stacked against them.

“None of his decisions, whether he stayed or went, would have surprised me. Success for the US is kind of what they did this World Cup. The expanded format should give the United States another good draw. Hopefully they can finish first or second in their group and get a favorable draw in the next round.

“When you get into the round of 16, it's all about who you play. If we're going to beat one of the big teams, we'll have to play incredibly well on the day, have the goalkeeper perform, or get lucky with a refereeing decision. Then we can carry on to the quarter-finals.

“I maintain this, in the United States, we won't have a 'golden generation', we'll have very good players and consistently stay in the top 20 in the world, which is competitive and very good.

“But we won't have a golden generation until the sport becomes the number one or two sport, where kids all over the US grow up with it indoctrinated in them. In inner cities and rural areas where kids currently want to play NFL, NBA, baseball, or NHL ice hockey, that's what we're up against.

“Cavan Sullivan has the opportunity to be a very good player, Zavier Gozo could be a great player, and Julian Hall and Neil Pierre have real ability. But everyone talking about potential in the US forgets that Brazil, England, Spain, and Portugal haven't stopped developing players either.

“Everyone is developing more good players, so we're up against that same backdrop. Success for me in realistic terms is getting through the group in first or second, securing a good draw in the knockout game, and seeing what happens.

“If you can reach the quarter-finals and beyond, that's a huge success, but the main goal is winning that next game. In terms of style of play, it'll be very competitive.

“We shouldn't get blown out like we did against Belgium, but there were different reasons for that. That's my view on it.”

Q: Who would you like to see replace Pochettino after the next World Cup? Would Jesse Marsch be a good option?

“Mauricio's the head coach right now, so I don't think we should be talking about who the next coach will be. My understanding was that Jesse Marsch was told he had the job, and then US Soccer pulled back. I don't think Jesse would ever pick up the phone for US Soccer again after what happened.

“We have a four-year cycle with Mauricio, so let's focus on that. I've known Jesse a long time, and I can't see him picking up the phone for US Soccer again given what went on.

Q: Do you think the US should host the World Cup again in 2038, or do you believe it should go to nations, like the UK, where football is the main sport?

“I think it's too early. If you put it in the US again, it becomes solely about money. You've seen what's happened with Infantino, the backlash, and the fighting within certain federations against FIFA.

“England hasn't hosted since '66, and it's one of the greatest football destinations on the globe. There are other countries that deserve the opportunity ahead of the US. It's brilliant having a World Cup in the US, and they should host again in the future, but doing it so soon opens up the argument that it's just a money grab.

“FIFA and the football community need to relax and focus on what's happening on the field rather than off it.”

Q: Do you think Lionel Messi will retire at the end of the MLS season, and what do you see him doing next?

“In MLS, with the way Lionel Messi understands the game and how quick his first step still is, he could play for another five years. MLS is slower compared to what he's used to, to be honest.

“If you look at videos of Messi when he first started, people tried to kick the living daylights out of him. Compared to that, the defensive pressure in MLS gives him room. I think he can play as long as he wants without major injuries.

“It's an ideal league for him to continue playing past his current contract. I don't know him personally, so I have no idea what his future plans are. He's wealthy enough to buy an island and hide away, help Argentine football, or buy a club in MLS or back home.

“As far as playing goes, he could play in MLS for a considerable amount of time. He's 39 now, and I could see him playing in MLS until he's 43 or 44 if he wanted to.

“He obviously doesn't need to, but provided he avoids bad injuries and stays mentally motivated, he certainly could.”

Q: What do you make of the current state of MLS with the likes of Messi, Lewandowski, Griezmann competing - and what is the one thing MLS needs to prioritise?

“The issue is that all the agents representing young players in MLS know that the level of football is higher in Europe, and so do the footballing bodies. Pretty much everyone in the game knows that's the case.

“Because of that, young players and their representatives don't entangle themselves in long contracts that keep them past their 18th or 19th birthdays, allowing them to leave for Europe.

“If you're consistently selling your best young talent, the league isn't going to get much stronger, because the foreign players coming in are either overpriced or stars at the very end of their careers.

“Robert Lewandowski is one of the greatest ever, but he's at the end of his career. Thomas Müller, Lionel Messi, Antoine Griezmann, Son Heung-min, Luis Suárez, all phenomenally great players, but all at the end of their careers.

“That doesn't make the league structurally better overall. When you're selling off your top young players, how much better can the league get? I saw comments from the incoming commissioner about spending more money on players, but it's not just about that.

“There's no promotion or relegation, and players around the world know the setup. You can offer bigger pay packets, but you won't attract a 24 or 25-year-old player in their prime who is playing in the Champions League for Man City, Real Madrid, Barcelona, or PSG.

“You won't get them to come over for CONCACAF competitions and MLS with no promotion or relegation. in the Premier League or go over someone that is playing in La Liga with Real Madrid and or Barcelona and in the Champions League and PSG the same.

“You're not going to get them to come over when you have CONCACAF Nations Cup and MLS with no promotion, no relegation. It it so my opinion is that they need to do a deal somehow, some way.

“In my opinion, they need to strike a deal where top MLS teams enter the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana, integrating into the cutthroat South American market. Imagine Boca Juniors playing Inter Miami, it would be massive commercially and on the field.

“I've always felt the US Soccer Federation hesitates on combining qualifying with South America because it might mean missing a couple of World Cups, but it would be brilliant for Mexico, Canada, and the US to join South American qualifying. That's what forces players to learn what winning and losing really mean, and drives development.

“Offering higher salaries in MLS won't stop young players' representatives from recognizing that moving to a club like Liverpool offers 10 to 20 times more earning potential and Champions League football in the long run.

“So for the new commissioner, the focus shouldn't just be on payroll, but on making the league more competitive. My understanding is he has already ruled out promotion and relegation.

“Could you combine Liga MX and MLS and introduce promotion and relegation? Canadian teams are already in MLS, so why not expand, bring in Liga MX and its second division, and create a promotion/relegation system?

“I can't see that happening because MLS owners have a closed-shop system that protects their investments, which I understand. But if we're talking purely about elevating the competitive standard, those are ways to do it.

“Copa Libertadores or Sudamericana might not even entertain the idea, but I'm suggesting ways to improve the league beyond just inflating contracts.

“Contracts will naturally rise as media rights grow, but MLS media rights aren't surging to a level where owners can continually absorb losses. I'm thinking of ways to raise the competitive standard to increase viewership and media rights, which in turn organically funds higher salaries.”

Q: Would you like to see more Canadian franchises set up to compete in MLS?

“Growing up in Cleveland on Lake Erie, I played a lot of ice hockey in Canada and crossed the border all the time. In the NHL, MLB, and NBA, it was completely normal to have Canadian franchises.

“I think there's room for two more Canadian teams if they wanted to join, Ottawa or Edmonton could be viable markets given their population and sports history.

“I don't look at Toronto FC, Vancouver Whitecaps, or Montréal as outcast Canadian clubs, they're part of the fabric of the league.

“MLS might be nervous about a full merger with Liga MX, because as we saw in the Leagues Cup, Mexican clubs dominated the quarter-finals over MLS teams.

“I don't know if a US-based team could ever be bigger than Chivas or Club América, which might make executives hesitant. But how cool would it be to have a unified North American league with promotion and relegation, where the winners of the league and cup competitions could set up matches like Inter Miami v Palmeiras or Boca Juniors or Club America can play them.

“From a football purist standpoint, it would be incredible for the region's overall competitiveness, including Canada and Mexico.”

Q: Do Bayern Munich have a good chance this season, and if they don’t win it, could you see Vincent Kompany being sacked?

“There's pressure anytime you're at Bayern or PSG. Every now and again Leipzig or Dortmund push Bayern in the Bundesliga, but by and large Bayern are expected to dominate.

“Real Madrid and Barcelona face the same expectations, with only clubs like Atletico Madrid or Valencia occasionally challenging them.

“Because of that, the Champions League is massive for the board and supporters. If Bayern don't win it, there will naturally be pressure on Vincent Kompany, and he knows that. But it's always about the manner in which you lose.

“Their two legs against PSG, especially the first leg, was one of the most magnificent games of football I've ever watched. If that happens in a semi-final, would you fire a manager for that? No, in my opinion. It was two heavyweights going blow for blow.

“The front three for both Bayern and PSG rated over 8.2 on match data, which rarely happens in top-level matches. If they were to go out 4-0 on aggregate in the round of 16, I could understand the board making a change, but not if they reach the semi-finals and lose a thriller against another top side.”

Q: Who are your Champions League favourites?

“It's early in the season, and injuries or January signings can change things, but I look at five teams, Arsenal, PSG, Bayern Munich, Real Madrid, and Barcelona. It's hard to look past those five. Man City could be a sixth candidate if Maresca gets the team firing, given the quality of their squad, but I'd be surprised if the winner comes from outside that group.

“But I'd be surprised if it's somebody different.”

Q: Are you worried about Liverpool in goal once Allison departs, and does Giorgi Mamardashvili have what it takes to step up and win them trophies?

“Alisson is still the main guy, and everyone ages out eventually, but he's not aging out yet. As a goalkeeper, you continually assess performance season by season. Van der Sar played into his 40s, David Seaman and Peter Schmeichel played well into their late 30s and 40s, and Buffon did as well.

“In December they’ll think about January and as long as he's still at the levels and then they'll assess again. If you stay free of major injuries and stay mentally sharp. Alisson has the top-level mentality where mistakes don't rattle him.

“You squeeze every last bit of brilliance out of him for as long as possible, because finding another Alisson is extremely difficult and expensive.

“I've loved watching the guy over the years. I think he's been magnificent and I still think he's magnificent.”

Q: Did Arsenal make a mistake not signing Victor Osimhen?

“Victor Osimhen has the perfect profile for the Premier League, he's big, strong, great in the air, and can play in a high-pressing team, a low block, or a possession-based side. His movement in the box and finishing ability are proven and deadly.

“The difficulty with a deal like that often comes down to financial structures and wage expectations, especially with PSR rules in the Premier League making massive net packages difficult to accommodate alongside other transfer business.

“Having been at Besiktas, I know the overall package offered to him was enormous, which makes it complicated for Premier League clubs trying to manage financial compliance.

“In Turkey, contract structure and image rights negotiations can cause delays. Many Premier League clubs likely inquired, but most probably didn't get past the first phone call when they found out how much.”

Q: Do you worry about Galatasaray vs Fenerbahce blowing over with ex-Arsenal star Matteo Guendouzi in the thick of the action?

“If you can play in the Galatasaray vs. Fenerbahçe derby, keep your cool, and perform, you can play in any atmosphere in the world.

“In terms of intensity and atmosphere, the only fixture I've seen match it was Celtic vs. Rangers which I went to a few times when I had a pal playing for Rangers, which can get very intense inside and outside the ground.

“The Istanbul derby is no joke, it's an absolute war on and off the pitch. Sophisticated business men and women just turn into completely different irrational people around this fixture.”

Q: Can you see Harry Kane returning to Tottenham once he decides to call it a day at Bayern Munich?

“If Harry Kane returns to the Premier League, I think he would prioritize a move back to Tottenham. I couldn't see him signing for Arsenal or Chelsea.

“If a club like Liverpool or Manchester United made an inquiry, his representatives would likely inform Tottenham first to see if a deal could be done, but if there was an incredible package from one of those two, I think we could see it happen.”

Q: Can you see Unai Emery becoming Man Utd manager if Michael Carrick’s season doesn’t go as planned, and if Aston Villa fall off this season?

“Aston Villa is a magnificent club, and Unai Emery has done an exceptional job there. It's tough for a manager when squad adjustments are required due to financial regulations, but there is immense mutual respect between Emery and the Villa board.

“If he wasn't committed to the long-term project at Villa, he would have moved elsewhere, so his staying is a great sign for the club.

“I think it would be weighing on him. It's never nice to have your squad stripped like they have because even in the previous three years they've been really up against it financially.

“They were half interested in one of our players at Besiktas, but they could never put in a formal offer because they had to sell players before they could do it.

“They've been up against it for a considerable amount of time. They did do some good business, they brought in a lot of money, so hopefully that alleviates things.

“Newcastle and Aston Villa performed very well in recent years. Tottenham finished seventeenth twice in a row and Tottenham can spend more money than them. It's an odd thing.”

Q: Is the signing of Emiliano Martinez a game-changer for Chelsea?

“Emiliano Martínez is a proven winner and one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Even if he makes the occasional mistake, his mentality and resilience are top-class.

“He brings a winning mentality to Chelsea, making it a very strong signing.”

Q: Can you see Cristiano Ronaldo taking up an ambassadorial role at Man Utd when he retires, or do you see a career in Hollywood waiting for him?

“Like Lionel Messi, Ronaldo is one of the greatest players in history, and it's hard to predict his post-playing career but has the resources to pursue whatever interests him, whether in business, club ownership, or global ambassadorial roles.

I have no idea what his aspirations are. I'd be very surprised if he came over to North America now after committing to the retirement kind of football already in Saudi, which is the opposite side of the globe.

“I’d be very surprised, it would have to be an incredible pay packet someone would have to give and he’s 41 which has to be considered.”

Q: You recently revealed you received contract offers from Celtic and Rangers, do you regret not playing for either of those huge clubs up in Scotland?

“I received contract offers from both Celtic and Rangers. Walter Smith offered me a contract at Rangers before I signed with Liverpool in 1996, and I seriously considered it.

“I was ultimately drawn to the English Premier League. Celtic offered me a deal earlier in '92 or '93 when I trained with them, but Liverpool and Newcastle were heavily recruiting me as well, so I chose the path to the Premier League.

“I was attracted to the English Premier League over the Scottish Premier League. That had no reflection on Walter and as it turned out it was better I did that 'cause shortly after Walter left Rangers and went to Everton. So he came down to Merseyside anyway.

“Then Celtic I was offered a contract in 1992 or 1993. I went over and I trained with Celtic a little bit andI was offered a deal at the time. They were in a little bit of a financial predicament back then.

“Rangers were well on top at the time and Liverpool were already expressing an interest and Kevin Keegan at Newcastle was expressing an interest. So I didn't take it any further than that.”

Q: What do you make of the current position of Blackburn Rovers in the Championship?

“It breaks my heart to see Blackburn Rovers struggling. During my eight and a half years there, under the Walker Trust and great executives like John Williams, we qualified for Europe six times and had incredible players like Andy Cole, Dwight York, Matt Jansen, Damian Duff, David Dunn, Roke Santa Cruz, Benny McCarthy, Craig Bellamy, Tudgay, Ryan Nelsen, Chris Samba, Morten Gamst Pedersen.

“We had really good teams, André Ooijer, Lucas Neill, tons of players that did a great job there. and it was a real shame that after the sale of the club it just didn't seem to click and right now they're forever fighting against it.

“The more years that go on, the more detached they become from the top clubs when it comes to finances. So then it all becomes about recruitment and you have to get that just absolutely categorically spot on and have everything go right for you in the season to be able to fight to try to get in the playoffs.

“I think a couple of times they've been knocking on that door, but they've been doing it just without having the top budgets, which is fine.

“Coventry got promoted, having the twentieth largest budget. It's not all about that, but recruiting into Blackburn is a lot more difficult than recruiting into Birmingham and London.

“I hope Tony Mowbray can pull some magic out of his hat.”