'I was never disrespectful' - Florian Kamberi admits Rangers comments 'could make it difficult' when he returns to Hibs

Florian Kamberi has an effort saved by Aberdeen's Joe Lewis

Florian Kamberi has insisted he meant no disrespect with his comments about sealing a "dream move" to Rangers on transfer deadline day.

The Swiss-born striker completed a loan move to Ibrox with Gers midfielder Greg Docherty moving in the opposite direction, but his comments after signing drew ire from the Easter Road faithful who felt the 24-year-old was treating the temporary arrangement as a permanent switch.

The reaction to his most recent social media post sums up the general mood of most Hibs fans, with scores of rat and snake emojis peppering the comments underneath an enthusiastic post on the player's Instagram page about making his debut for Steven Gerrard's team.

But speaking to the Evening News' sister title The Scotsman, the former Grasshoppers frontman refused to apologise for his comments, instead claiming that he was ambitious and keen to make the step up.

"I understand the fans thought I was being disrespectful, but when I was at Hibs I gave 100 per cent and didn’t think about any other club,” said Kamberi, who came off the bench in Rangers’ goalless draw with Aberdeen on Saturday.

“I’m an ambitious guy, I’m young and want to make the next step, and want to go to a bigger club and I have done that on loan.

"But I was never disrespectful because Hibs fans always treated me amazing since day one."

Kamberi, who has scored eight goals for Hibs this term, will still have 12 months of his Easter Road contract remaining when the loan deal expires, but he conceded his remarks could prove problematic in the summer.

"Of course, [my comments] could make it difficult if and when I go back. But I’m doing what any normal, ambitious young footballer would do. Any player who plays for a smaller club than Rangers or Celtic and has the chance to go to one of those clubs would take it,” he insisted.

“I have big ambitions in my career but I want to do everything step by step. I have the chance to be at Rangers and want to do my best."