Nekounam: Osasuna Huge In Iran -Thanks To Me!

GOAL - Glasgow Rangers not only have to face Osasuna in the first leg of their UEFA Cup tie tonight but the Scottish club has the whole of Iran against them too.

That is according to the Spanish club’s Iranian midfielder Javad Nekounam who claims that becuae of him, the Pamplona outfit are big news in Persia.

"I am one of the biggest players of the national team along with Ali Daei, Mehdi Mahdavikia and Ali Karimi.,” the 26 year-old told the Daily Record.

"The German Bundesliga is watched by people on TV in my country but Spanish football is more popular and has more acceptance because they are more technical and have an open style of play.

"I am the first player from Iran to play in Spain and now every Iranian football supporter is an Osasuna fan.

"My name is in the newspapers every day. The broadcast of the media of my country is very deep about me and of course my club, Osasuna."

Nekounam, who joined the La Liga outfit last summer, scored the winning goal in Osasuna’s win over Bordeaux in the previous round.