The Rangers midfielder left Goodison Park as a 14-year-old.
Joey Barton celebrates promotion with Burnley
Joey Barton has told this month’s edition of Four Four Two magazine he thinks he has proved Everton were wrong to release him.
Barton was let go by his boyhood club at the age of 14, moving to Manchester City where he eventually made his name.
The controversial midfielder later played for Newcastle United and Queens Park Rangers in England’s top flight, and spent a season in French football with Olympique de Marseille.
Now 34, the once-capped England international recently signed for Scottish giants Glasgow Rangers, having helped Burnley to the Championship title last season.
When asked about his departure from Goodison Park, Barton told Four Four Two: “It was an incredibly difficult time. I was a boyhood Evertonian, standing on the terraces and waiting outside of the training ground for autographs.
“After being in the academy from the age of seven to 14, to be told that someone has decided you’re not big enough – not that you’re not good enough – is tough.
“But you either mope and confirm they were right, or you say: ‘I’m going to prove you wrong.’ I think I’ve validated that I was right and they were wrong.”
Barton is yet to win a major trophy as a footballer, with his only honours to date coming as a Championship player.
In addition to last season’s winners’ medal with Burnley, the Liverpudlian won another with Newcastle six years ago and was a play-off winner with QPR in 2014.
That said, Everton are trophyless themselves since allowing Barton to leave – having failed to add any silverware since their 1995 FA Cup success.
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