Football: Bruno Alves joins Rangers with eyes on the title

BRUNO Alves has set his sights on the Premiership crown after clinching a move to Rangers.

The Portuguese has put pen-to-paper on a two-year deal after leaving Serie A side Cagliari to become the first arrival of the summer at Ibrox.

Alves has joined countryman Pedro Caixinha in Glasgow and the capture of the former Porto, Zenit and Fenerbahce star is a significant boost for the Light Blues boss as he prepares for a frantic close season.

Caixinha is attempting to overhaul his squad ahead of the Gers’ return to the Europa League and his first full campaign in the Premiership.

Rangers finished a distant third in the top flight this term but Alves is determined to strive for success at the first attempt next time out.

“I want to be champion again,” he said. “This is one of the best feelings I have in my career and the last time I was champion at a club was with Fenerbahce. I want to have this feeling again. I think I have come here for the right reasons and I think I can bring this back to the club.

“I think [we can compete at the top of the Premiership next season]. This is why I have come here. I come here to win and this is what I expect.

“All the people that come here, they will never forget about what they see and what they experience here. This was also my idea when the people approached me to come here. It is a fantastic environment and I hope I can have this for the next years.

“I like to live the moment. I came here and I see the city better, I came to see the facilities and the stadium, the museum, the trophy [room].

“For me, I have so many great memories from what I leave and what I want to leave here. It is going to be an amazing journey I am sure about that.”

With his first deal of the summer signed and sealed, Caixinha will now look to continue his rebuilding job in the coming weeks.

Rangers return to pre-season training on Monday ahead of the new campaign but Alves will be absent from Auchenhowie after he joined up with the Portuguese squad last night.

The 35-year-old could be unavailable until the first week in July if Fernando Santos’ side reach the latter stages of the Confederations Cup this summer.

But Alves is looking forward to getting down to business under Caixinha’s guidance as Rangers prepare for the new campaign.

“At almost all the clubs I have played, I win,” he told RangersTV. “I expect to win here for the fans, for the club and I think I can do this here.

“I know him (Caixinha) and also the work that he did in Portugal. I think he has the quality and the ideas to make this club victorious again.”