Ferguson is out-of-favour at Rangers and was stripped of his club captaincy and suspended without pay for two weeks due to his behaviour on international duty with Scotland.
Advocaat told the Daily Record: “I was asked if I would be interested in signing Barry if he is leaving Rangers in the summer.
“My answer was clear. If I did not have a player for that position then Ferguson would have been one of my choices – but I don’t need a player for that position.
“(Anatoly) Timoschuk has done an excellent job for me and is a real quality player. So, in principle, I have no need for Barry.”
He added: “I find what happened strange. But then, I believe Barry has been at the club for too long.
“It is better for him to leave Rangers and get a new motivation.
“I think he is still a great player but not for Rangers any more. Walter Smith will realise this because he is a very bright man.”
