Madjid Bougherra says Rangers offer 'made me sick'

Madjid Bougherra last night fired a bitter parting shot at Rangers, insisting their offer of a new contract left him "sick".

The Algeria defender has quit Ibrox with a year left on his deal to join mega-rich Qatar champions Lekhwiya.

Bougherra, 28, said he had been ready to stay with Ally McCoist's side following his failure to land a move to the Barclays Premier League. But the centre-back claimed Rangers failed to improve his financial terms, only offering him a two-year extension while other players were given five-year deals.

"I was in my last season at Rangers and had two options," Bougherra said. "Either I extended my stay or saw out my contract, with the risk that I got injured and found myself without a club next year.

"The extension offer that Rangers made me had the same financial terms as before, with virtually the same salary. It was okay, but compared to what defenders earn these days, not what I hoped for.

"Besides, they just offered me a two-year extension, while two or three other Rangers players prolonged their contracts by five years. It made me sick. I didn't think about money too much when I first joined Rangers, but since then I have won titles, played in the World Cup, African Nations Cup and Champions League and have won individual prizes. But I felt this wasn't leading me to anything and I began to be filled with self-doubt.

"People told me that big clubs in England, France and Turkey were keen on me, but they turned out not to be interested."

Bougherra will be offered the chance to go into management by Lekhwiya - and he has also lined up a job with Qatar-based TV station Al Jazeera. "Lekhwiya said in their offer that they will give me coaching opportunities." the defender said. "The people in Qatar recognise my value both on and off the pitch."