Playmaker Barkley joined Chelsea from Everton in January.
Leon Osman has told BeIN Sports that the reason Ross Barkley struggled at Everton could be down to his weight, as the playmaker continues to shine with Maurizio Sarri’s Chelsea.
The 24-year-old joined Chelsea in January after being ostracised at Everton prior to his move, with a long-term hamstring injury preventing him from developing any momentum on Merseyside.
A difficult few months at Stamford Bridge prevented him from regular first-team action, but this season Barkley has shown his true class with three goals and three assists in nine appearances for the Blues.
Barkley’s former teammate Osman claimed the England international looks slimmer and stronger in appearance, and believes he is getting better going forward – whereas at Everton he made the wrong decisions.
“As an attacker, he’s made strides this season,” Osman said. “He’s got the onus on him to shoot, he’s making passes. At Everton, he made naive decision, gave the ball away cheaply at times.
“I haven’t seen that this season. He’s made the right decisions more often. I think he looks more lean, he looks more powerful. Maybe he was carrying a little bit more over the last 18 months. He’s now in the real world.”
Barkley’s form this season has even seen him return to the England fold under Gareth Southgate, starting both UEFA Nations League matches against Spain and Croatia.
Chelsea are next in action on Wednesday night against Derby County in the Carabao Cup, which will see Frank Lampard return to Stamford Bridge for the first time as manager. Barkley faces Everton on November 11.
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