Allardyce left fuming as Prso signs for Rangers
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Alex McLeish, the Rangers manager, celebrated the capture of Dado Prso from Monaco as his counterpart at Bolton, Sam Allardyce, was left seething on the sidelines.
The Croatian international, who will sign off his career with the French club with the Champions' League final against Porto on 26 May, has signed a three-year deal with the Ibrox club.
"I've watched Prso many times this season," McLeish said. "He's very direct as a striker and has a great presence, which is just what we need. I'm absolutely delighted to have secured a player of his calibre."
Allardyce is furious after believing he had convinced the 29-year-old to move to Lancashire. "I can't believe after what we agreed that he'll turn us down," he said. "We might not be quite big enough for him just yet."
Brazil's Rivaldo could still play for Bolton in the Premiership next season, however, according to the club chairman, Phil Gartside. "I've got a fax in my pocket which arrived this morning saying he wants to come to us," Gartside said.
Elsewhere, Marcel Desailly has insisted he does not feel any anger towards the disgraced former television pundit Ron Atkinson although he stopped short of forgiving the former Manchester United manager for the racist comments he made about him last month.
Atkinson was sacked by ITV Sport and stripped of a newspaper column after remarks about the French defender following Chelsea's Champions' League semi-final defeat in Monaco last month that were transmitted to some foreign stations but were not heard on air in Britain.
"He has made a mistake in front of everybody and he will pay for what he has said I cannot do anything about that," Desailly said. "But I feel sorry for him; I am sure he did not mean it as I believe he said it because he was annoyed about the result of the game."
Desailly sought to understate the significance of the remarks, but when asked if he forgave Atkinson for what he had said, the former Milan player was unequivocal in his response. He said: "I do not forgive him and I do not agree with what he said. But there are billions of people in the world. He is just one guy, and it will not stop me from continuing with my life."
Desailly also said he has yet to speak to Atkinson since the incident on 20 April. The former Aston Villa manager was keen to contact the player in the aftermath of his comments, but the two have yet to converse.
"I read in the newspapers that he wanted to talk to me, but I have not spoken to him yet," Desailly added.
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