Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos: My family’s grief drives me on

Rangers striker Alfredo Morelos has spoken about the family tragedy which drives him on in his career. Picture: Craig Foy/SNS

The Colombia international promised to look after his family after a younger sister died.

In an interview in Spanish with Rangers TV, the 22-year-old said: “My family supports me very unconditionally, they always give me that motivation, that love, to do things better every day.

“The love of my parents, my sisters, it makes me proud to be doing what I’ve been doing so far.

“My little sister was a very big motivation for me. I told my mother that I would take care of them, because we were a very poor family there in Colombia, in Cerete.

“After my little sister died, I told my mother one day I’m going to take care of you and my whole family and, thank God, we are now doing really well. Now I am in this great institution where everything is really working out for me.

“My family is very proud of me. Honestly, my mother, my father, they cry, they cry watching me play.

“My parents were here, they now know how it is, the atmosphere here and more so now seeing it themselves.

“It’s something they feel proud of, of their son, because I do it with a lot of love for them too. I’m happy to make my family very happy.”

Morelos recently signed his fourth Rangers contract in less than two years and is committed to Ibrox until 2023.

And the former HJK Helsinki player admits the love of the fans has inspired him.

The forward, who has 29 goals this season, said: “I like Rangers a lot, the fans, the football, what we experience day to day is incredible. The fans, the way they praise us and want to watch us play every weekend, every midweek, is amazing.

“I get that adrenaline rush and it’s awesome, I want to be competing as much as I can and as fast as I can.

“It’s exciting, I get goosebumps, it’s a love they have, for me for everything I have done on the pitch.... and it really motivates me to know that the fans, both the kids and adults, love me in an incredible way.

“I know it and I feel it because every time I score, every time I go to a shopping centre or go out for dinner, the love the Rangers fans have for me is awesome. I want to keep doing things right so they keep loving me.”

Morelos promised not to lose the competitive spirit which has got him this far but has also got him into trouble on the pitch.

The striker has received four red cards this season, one of which was later rescinded, and a further 16 yellow cards on top of two double-bookings.

“I am a very hot player on the field, I’m very passionate, and I like it,” he said.

“When I’m competing, when I’m active and fighting with the defence, jumping, holding the ball up, I would never change the way I am.

“I’m a tough player, I like playing in the air, I like clashing, I like frustrating the defence.

“No one can faze me, I’m the kind of player that is always dedicated to my team, and I fight for my team.”