PSV technical director Earnest Stewart has explained why Couhaib Driouech’s proposed move to Rangers fell through before the winger eventually completed a transfer to Celta de Vigo.

Driouech left PSV for the Spanish club last month, bringing an end to his two-year spell in Eindhoven. However, his departure could have taken a very different route after Rangers initially appeared to be his next destination.

The forward had already travelled to Glasgow and was present at Ibrox during a European match involving Rangers. Yet the deal ultimately collapsed after the Scottish club discovered another injury during Driouech’s medical examination.

According to Stewart, the disagreement was about how long Driouech would be unavailable.

The player had travelled to Scotland knowing he had suffered a minor injury, but PSV believed it would keep him out for only a short period. Rangers, however, reached a different conclusion after their medical assessment and decided against completing the transfer.

“It is what it is. He went to Glasgow knowing he had picked up a minor injury. In our eyes something that would last for a very short time,” Stewart explained in the PSV series Here in the South.

“He went to Glasgow and Rangers then thought totally differently about it.”

The difference in assessment ultimately proved decisive, with Rangers pulling the plug on the proposed transfer.

Driouech subsequently returned to PSV after the Rangers deal collapsed. The winger was soon back on the pitch, appearing during an open training session at the Philips Stadion just days after returning from Scotland.

His failed move did not leave him waiting long for another opportunity.

Celta de Vigo had previously shown interest in the player and remained in contact with PSV. Once the Rangers deal was abandoned, the Spanish club returned to the table and negotiations eventually produced a successful transfer.

“Celta de Vigo was still there then and in the end we worked things out with them,” Stewart said, as relayed by PSV Inside.

“He moved to Celta and there he underwent the medical examination. That was no problem. And now we are seven to ten days later.”

The episode highlights how quickly a transfer can change direction, particularly when a medical examination raises concerns.

Driouech was on the verge of joining Rangers, even travelling to Glasgow, but the deal collapsed over a disagreement about the seriousness and expected recovery time of his injury.

Within days, the winger was back training with PSV, and another opportunity emerged.

Celta’s renewed interest ultimately provided the solution. Their medical examination raised no problems, allowing Driouech to complete his move to Spain and bring his PSV career to an end.

For Stewart and PSV, the failed Rangers transfer ultimately led to a successful agreement with a club that had already been monitoring the player.