Joey Barton says Ngolo Kante would not have saved Rangers against Celtic.
Former Glasgow Rangers midfielder Joey Barton was a guest on BBC Radio 5 Live last night, giving his first radio interview since his exit from the club was confirmed last summer.
Hailed as a big summer signing, Barton lasted only eight games, with his final match a sorry defeat to bitter rivals Celtic, which preceded an internal bust-up which led to his departure.
Rangers’ Joey Barton looks dejected
Rangers were hammered 5-1 by Celtic but Barton says he was powerless to influence the huge gap between the two sides, and says even Chelsea’s Ngolo Kante would have struggled too.
Kante cost Chelsea £30 million after helping Leicester win the Premier League title last season and went onto star for Frane at Euro 2016.
Barton said: “To lose any game is disappointing, to lose an Old Firm, when you are the prime focus of the Scottish media, and the exposure which comes with that, was incredibly disappointing from a professional standpoint.
“Put Charlie Adam in there, they still lose 5-1, put Kante… they lose 4-1. Put anybody in that situation, the result is still 5-1.”
France’s N’Golo Kante in action with Romania’s Nicolae Stanciu
Barton is currently a free agent at the age of 34 after Rangers contract was terminated, and is hoping to earn a new deal elsewhere in January, having been training recently with Burnley.
His old side Rangers are up to second in the Scottish Premiership but are eight points behind leaders Celtic who have three games in hand.
General View of Ibrox Stadium
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