Former Rangers striker Marco Negri has revealed he quit the Scottish giants after fearing he was HIV-positive . Negri joined the Ibrox outfit from Italian side Perugia for £3.5million in 1997 , scoring a staggering 23 goals in his first 10 league games for the club . However , a series of injuries destabilised his career in Glasgow including a reserve match against Aberdeen on November 13 , 2000 . Ex-Rangers forward Marco Negri has revealed that he quit the club after fearing he had AIDS . Cosenza ( Italy ) - 19 goals in 34 league games - ( 1994-95 ) Perugia ( Italy ) - 33 in 60 - ( 1995-97 ) Rangers - 32 in 30 - ( 1997-2001 ) Vicenza ( Italy , on loan ) - 1 in 9 - ( 1999-00 ) Bologna ( Italy ) - 0 in 3 - ( 2001-02 ) Cagliari ( Italy ) - 2 in 5 - ( 2002 ) Livorno ( Italy ) 8 in 10 - ( 2002-03 ) Perugia - 0 in 3 - ( 2004-05 ) During the encounter the then 30-year-old forward was on the receiving end of a crunching tackle that caused his right shinbone to bleed profusely . After hospital tests and treatment for what was perceived as a 'deep wound ' , Negri returned to action in the New Year to train with the reserve team where he suffered a shooting pain in his right knee and leg . Further scans at Ross Hall Hospital showed an inflammation of the shinbone and more worryingly that properties of his blood had been attacked by a lymphogranuloma or lymphosarcoma - common symptoms for those that suffer with HIV/AIDS . However , in his imminent autobiography 'Moody Blue - The Story of the Mysterious Marco ' , which is serialised in the Daily Record ; the now 44-year-old reveals that his worst fears were n't confirmed after flying to Italy for treatment . ' I was immediately hospitalised . I hadn ’ t even considered the possibility of being HIV positive but the harsh reality was there in front of me in the medical report , and it was hard to ignore and digest , ' Negri wrote . In his autobiography , Negri ( left ) reveals his nightmare started after a reserve match vs Aberdeen in 2000 . After months of hospital scans in Scotland , Negri ( right ) was told in Italy that his blood was absolutely fine . ' I didn ’ t feel able to deal with such a thing alone . I needed my family around me and wanted to undergo further tests in Italy to understand exactly what was going on , the risks and chances of recovery . ' I had to return to Italy , and not on a temporary basis . I asked my lawyer to speak to Rangers about an early dissolution of my contract . 'They had no objections to the premature ending of our relationship , which was something I really appreciated , although it also showed me how serious my condition was . 'Luckily , I didn ’ t have to wait long to learn I was simply suffering a stress fracture of the tibial axis of the knee . This diagnosis was given by doctors in Bologna . In Scotland they hadn ’ t got it right this time , even if the results of three blood tests confirmed some anomalies that couldn ’ t be overlooked . 'Further tests found my blood to be absolutely fine and there was no need for medication or invasive treatment . My drama had been resolved in the best way possible , and I put behind me the endless days of terror when the worst case scenario was swimming around in my head . ' Negri scored a staggering 23 goals in his first 10 league games for Rangers after joining in 1997 .
Marco Negri joined Rangers for £3.5million from Perugia in 1997 . Striker suffered a shinbone injury in a reserve match vs Aberdeen in 2000 . Hospital scans showed properties of his blood had symptoms of AIDS . The club were forced to pay compensation and the player was banned for life by the Italian FA, but he returned after serving half of that ban at Inter Milan.