Kristers Tobers has admitted his dad can’t wait to come to Aberdeen to get his photograph taken beside Sir Alex Ferguson’s statue.
The Latvia captain, who has been issued his visa to make his debut against Hearts on Saturday, admitted his father Richard is a massive Manchester United fan and their former boss is one of one his heroes. Tobers admitted his dad was all excited when he learned that he was going to the club where Ferguson first made his name.
The new signing explained: “Yes, actually he didn’t know that, I told him about it (the statue) and then he actually googled it yesterday. Then he called me to say actually Sir Alex Ferguson was here. I told him I already knew. Yeah, for sure, (when he comes over and gets his picture taken next to the statue) I think there’s going to be a Facebook photo for him now and the profile picture as well. My dad was always a big Manchester United fan and I always watched British football.
“Yeah, but now he’s getting angry now because Manchester United aren’t doing so well just now at this point, so he’s not really happy now. I am passionate about British football, all the fans and the environment, everything that is about football.”
The 24-year-old has previously had Scottish experience because his manager at Latvian side Liepaja was Gordon Young, who is currently head of youth at Hamilton. Young also tried to line him up with a move to Sheffield United but injury scuppered it. He admitted: “Yeah, when I was younger, I had a few trials, but it was in Spain, but in England there was nothing.
“We had a coach from Scotland, actually, before, in Latvia, for one year, I think. Gordon Young was here, so he wanted me to go to trial at Sheffield United, I think, at that point, but yeah, I was a little bit injured and I said to the coach that, okay, let me stay here, and then just relax and get my rehabilitation going.”
There was no danger of him missing out on a move to Aberdeen this month. The defender made it clear to Grasshoppers that he wanted to make the move. Tobers stated: “It was my intention to go and whenever I knew that Aberdeen was interested, I had a good conversation with the sporting director from Grasshoppers.
“I said that I want to try and I want to go to Scotland. “We had a good conversation, and thanks to him also that I’m here. Yes, I mean, I understand them as well, it’s not an easy situation for the whole club. The last two seasons, it was not easy for us, we were lower in the table, but I’m happy that they let me go and I will try my best here now.”
Tobers also got a bit of an insight from two old Scottish Premiership old boys, former Hamilton and St Mirren stars. “I knew a little bit about Scottish football from my ex-teammates who were in Poland,” he admitted.
“They were more telling me about the weather than about football. “There was Flavio Paixão, he was playing before, a Portuguese striker and then Ilkay Durmus as well. “I spoke to them a little bit.”
Aberdeen are without the suspended Slobodan Rubezic, while Dimitar Mitov, Ester Sokler, Vicente Besuijen and Jack Milne are all injured. New signings Jeppe Okkels and Tobers come in. It has also been confirmed Gavin Molloy needs a shoulder operation and is out for the season, while top scorer Pape Habib Gueye is also expected to be fit after the Scottish Cup tie at Elgin.