Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart has hailed Jack Butland's transfer to Rangers as a "good move" but stopped short of wishing his friend well out of “respect” for the Old Firm rivalry.

Hart, perhaps unsurprisingly, took a reticent approach when asked about former England team-mate Butland, who joined the Ibrox side last month following the expiry of his contract at Crystal Palace.

The pair formed a close relationship during their time together with the national side and Hart, the former Manchester City stopper who signed for Celtic in 2021, said: “Good move for him. Obviously I go way back with Jack.

“I’m very respectful of the two clubs that we play for so I’m not really going to go into it but I’m happy that he’s found a home.

Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart and new Rangers signing Jack Butland during an England training session in 2015. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

“I have spoken to him. We’re going to we share the same city but, as I say, I’ve got a lot of respect for what goes on between the two clubs and I’m sure he’s going to go and do his thing and I’ll try and do mine.”

Butland took a similar stance when asked about Hart during his first Rangers media conference earlier this week.

“The first rule is not to speak about the other side!” he said.

'We go way back' - Celtic's Joe Hart on his link to new Rangers arrival but why 'respect' comes first

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