It's no secret that Lewis Ferguson comes from a die-hard Rangers family - and that's why being released by the Glasgow giants aged 14 still hurts the Scotland star. 

Even though it's helping fuel his motivation to become even better.

His dad Derek represented the Ibrox club more than 110 times, while his uncle Barry is a Rangers legend having captained the Light Blues for the majority of his 431 appearances across two spells.

Ferguson, 25, is now Bologna captain in Italy after becoming a standout at Aberdeen over a four-year period. He even scored against his boyhood heroes during a BetFred Cup semi-final at Hampden Park. 

(Image: SNS Group Rob Casey) He sadly missed Euro 2024 this summer because of injury, but has returned from the six-month lay-off in recent weeks, ready to make his mark in Serie A and help Bologna's UEFA Champions League prospects, with four league phase games remaining.

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Reflecting back on his journey into football, Ferguson told Serie A uncut: "Of course I was born into football with my family, my uncle and my father. I also have two older brothers. When I was young it was always football in the house.

"This was one of the most difficult points in my career when I was younger. At 14 I was told I wasn't good enough to play for Rangers. A club which I supported of course because it had a strong connection with my family. I just used the disappointment as motivation to prove people wrong but just to become a footballer in general was my dream.

"I think coming from a family of football helped in terms of I have experience if I need to ask questions or in situations my family has experience. I took my own path and used that disappointment at 14 years old as motivation to become as good a player as I possibly can."

Ferguson wasn't short of admirers during the time he made the decision to leave Scottish football and join Bologna for £3million in July 2022. 

And he admits that watching how well fellow Scot Aaron Hickey flourished in Italy was a huge factor. 

"When the interest was there from Bologna back in 2022 I obviously knew Aaron Hickey from the national team," he explained. "I was with the national team at this time when I heard of the interest from Bologna.

"Of course I spoke to Aaron and everything he said was positive. He said what to expect was good people, a good club, good fans, a really nice city and a football team that can help you grow and become a better footballer. Everything he said was true in the end as the last two years I have loved it here."