Hull City’s summer signing Jack Butland says it took a special offer to entice him away from playing in Scotland with Rangers, as he embarks on the latest chapter of a fine career.
Butland, who made his England debut at the age of just 19, spent the last three years in Glasgow before deciding to return to England and link up with the Premier League newboys in a move which saw Ivor Pandur go in the opposite direction.
City‘s first arrival of the summer made his bow for his new club on Saturday, playing the first half of the Tigers’ comfortable win over Konyaspor on Saturday, and will get another run-out on Tuesday night when Sergej Jakirovic’s men play Rizespor, in their final outing in Slovenia before heading to Istanbul.
The goalkeeper’s vast experience in the Premier League will come in handy for Sergej Jakirovic, but the lure of joining City conjures up memories of Oli McBurnie’s reasoning 12 months ago, when he turned down other offers because of what he felt he could achieve in East Yorkshire.
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“Oh no, I’m very pleased (to join City),” the stopper tells Hull Live as he gives his first external media interview since arriving. “I don’t want to make it sound like I wanted to get out because it wasn’t like that. I had a fantastic time there, and we (Butland’s family) loved living there.
“The people were great, the football club was incredible, so there was so much about it that I loved, and it needed to be something exciting and something special to sort of prise us away from that.
“I absolutely loved it as a player to experience that and be part of such a cutthroat environment, so there’s sort of no better preparation for what we’re going to face this year and the challenges. I’ve seen and witnessed it all, and I’m looking forward to what’s coming this year.”
City’s biggest strength last season was how tight-knit their dressing room was, and that’s something Jakirovic is keen to harness this summer as he brings in a host of new signings.
“It’s the most important thing,” Butland said of the dressing room’s spirit. “If you’ve not got a team of character, you’re going to struggle.
“These lads have definitely got that, and I believe I can add to that. It’s going to be a good group, we’re gonna have a lot of fun. It’s going to be difficult along the way, but I think if you’ve got the basis of a good group and a good core of players that are prepared to run and fight for each other, then you’ve got a really good chance, and one I believe we do.”
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