Kranjcar convinced by Rangers' title ambitions

Niko Kranjcar has revealed Mark Warburton's title ambitions were the key factor in convincing him to sign for Rangers.

The former Croatia midfielder has signed a two-year contract after leaving New York Cosmos.

The 31-year-old passed a medical on Wednesday but the deal had been carved out during a three-hour meeting with Warburton in New York.

And Kranjcar was reassured that he was coming to Ibrox to challenge for the Ladbrokes Premiership title straight away.

The former Tottenham, QPR and Portsmouth player said: "It was probably the most important thing. We had a great, great talk where I found out how much I really wanted this deal to happen.

"That was my first question - I hope the goal is to win the league.

"I believe a club the size of Rangers, whatever situation it is in or was in the previous years, has to fight to win the league and to win it.

"That is something you want to achieve when you come to a club the size of Rangers, you want to win the league and you want to fight for every title.

"Anything else is not good enough for this football club. Playing a long time in such environments, it was something I wanted to hear.

"When you come to Rangers you want to win the league, and when you have a manager who expects that from his team and his players, you are delighted you have the opportunity to be part of a team that are going to challenge.''

Kranjcar prefers to play behind the central striker, a position on offer under Warburton's attacking 4-3-3 formation.

Kranjcar said: "I don't know any other way to play football, so absolutely it helped a lot knowing the style of football he likes to play, and the possession game they have with him.''

The 81-times capped international made seven appearances during a short stint in the United States.

"I decided after terminating my contract mutually with Dinamo Kiev that I needed to go through a pre-season, and I got a great opportunity with the New York Cosmos to train with them and sign on with them,'' he said.

"The goal was to see if I like playing and living in the States, which I did, but in the back of my head I was thinking I still have a couple of great years ahead. For so many reasons, Europe always was my first choice.

"Once I found out it was Rangers, there is no other option.''

Kranjcar follows in the footsteps of close friend Nikica Jelavic in playing for Rangers but he did not need to seek his advice.

"No-one has to talk to you about what Rangers means, in Scotland, in world football,'' Kranjcar said.

"He obviously told me what a great time he had, what the fans were like, how many unbelievable goals he scored, and so on.

"But you don't need to call someone up and say 'tell me about Rangers'. The whole world knows about Rangers.''

Kranjcar is especially looking forward to facing Celtic and feels he can handle anything after facing former club Dinamo Zagreb after making a controversial move to Hajduk Split.

"I can't wait,'' he said.

"These are games that hype you up, pump you up.

"I have played in similar derby games back home in Croatia. I had a transfer from one club to another one, so I'm sure I will be able to deal with the situation and the atmosphere that the Old Firm brings.

"It wasn't the funniest game of my life, but it happened and I got through it. I'm still alive.

"And when you have your dad as a national team manager at the time, then you can definitely handle a lot of pressure coming your way.''

Kranjcar is also relishing a reunion with former QPR team-mate Joey Barton.

"He is probably the most underrated player I played with, because his ability is really up there with the best,'' he said.

"Everyone knows he is going to give everything to win a football game, so I think he is a great fit for the club.''