‘It was an honour’: Barisic’s comments when joining Rangers now look strange amid Ibrox rumblings

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When Rangers snapped up Croatian left-back Borna Barisic in the summer the player was clearly delighted with the move. He had impressed the Gers staff in a Europa League qualifier against former club Osijek. His performance convinced Rangers to spend a reported (BBC Sport) £2.2 million on bringing the defender to Ibrox.

Speaking to Goal about the move, Barisic spoke with exuberance at the Glasgow switch, especially at the thought of working with Steven Gerrard.

“After our second match versus Rangers in the Europa League, I received a call from an unknown number and the man said, ‘Hello, my name is Steven Gerrard’!

“It was amazing! I immediately told him it was an honour for me even to talk to such (a) legend, and yes, I would like to join him in Glasgow.”

However, not even a year down the line, it seems Barisic is on his way out. As reported by the Scottish Daily Record the Croatian was, along with Eros Grezda and Kyle Lafferty, one of the three senior Rangers players hauled off during a training match with Liverpool’s youngsters.

The writing, it seems, is on the wall for his Ibrox career. He has not played for the club since mid-March, after fairly uninspiring displays against Aberdeen and Kilmarnock. Often a defensive liability the 26-year-old has also suffered with injury trouble throughout his first Ibrox campaign.

It appears that it was last month when things went overtly wrong for Barisic. Gerrard, as reported by The Herald, was left fuming with the player for staying with the Croatia national team despite picking up an ankle injury.

From there, it has been downhill.

Whilst there have been flashes of his talent for Rangers they have been minute. For the most part, he has struggled to find the form he showcases for his country or did to initially spark Rangers’ interest in the summer.

The Rangers manager clearly wants a balanced and happy dressing room at Ibrox and, for whatever reason, it appears that does not include Barisic at this time. It will certainly be a shock if he remains a part of Gerrard’s team next season.