Former Rangers midfielder Joey Barton has commented on his departure from Ibrox.
Former Rangers midfielder Joey Barton has told BBC Radio Five Live’s Football Daily that he has no hard feelings towards Gers boss Mark Warburton following his Ibrox departure.
Barton, 34, helped Burnley win promotion to the Premier League last season, but rather than return to the top flight, the midfielder chose to take a gamble and join Rangers.
The Gers had just returned to the top flight of Scottish football for the first time since 2012, and manager Warburton wanted to land a big-name signing to mark Rangers’ return.
Joey Barton applauds fans as he is substituted
He plumped for Barton, bringing him in to sit in front of the back four whilst using his experience and quality to influence matches for Rangers.
Unfortunately for Rangers, the move ultimately turned out to be a complete disaster. Barton not only struggled in his eight games as a Rangers player, but was then suspended by the club following a training ground bust-up with Warburton and team-mate Andy Halliday.
Barton was eventually released from his contract following a lengthy suspension, and is now a free agent having failed to last even six months at Ibrox.
Joey Barton looks dejected
Now, Barton has spoken to BBC Radio Five Live’s Football Daily about his departure, and suggested that he would still sign for Rangers even if he had his time again, as it was too good of an opportunity to pass up.
Barton suggested that he wanted to immerse himself in the Old Firm rivalry with Celtic, and whilst he’s incredible disappointed that his last game was a 5-1 defeat to the Bhoys, he has no issue with Rangers or manager Warburton over his departure.
Barton also admitted that he has just one regret about his exit, as he’s now not playing football at all, and whilst he may return to action in January, he admitted that no player wants to miss playing.
Rangers manager Mark Warburton with Joey Barton
“No, I’d still have signed for Rangers – it was an opportunity that I couldn’t pass,” Barton said when asked if he would have stayed in England if he could turn back time. “It’s a great football club, it’s somewhere if they get it right it is a phenomenal place – it’s completely unique. There’s no doubt the Old Firm is what it’s all about and that’s why I signed up. I wanted to immerse myself in that. I’ve got no issue with Rangers, Mark Warburton or anybody on the board. Life’s too short to look back at things.”
“The only regret I’ve got is not playing football now. No player wants to miss football when they’re fit, especially not when you’re 34 and you don’t have another 10 years to play and you’re watching Match of the Day and reading papers and everyone else is playing football. When you play eight games for any club – my last game for Rangers is a defeat in the Old Firm at Celtic Park – and nobody wants to do that, only play eight games for a football club.”
“You want to have more of an impact and more of an impression. For the amount of backing the fans gave me and the belief they put in me, and the football club to get me there in the first place, it’s incredibly disappointing,” he added.
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