As was speculated and expected, yesterday Rangers confirmed the capture of former Burnley, QPR and Newcastle midfielder Joey Barton.
The 33 year old played a key part in the winning the English Championship with Sean Dyche’s side last season, and he admitted leaving them with a return to the Premier League secured was one of the most difficult choices of his career, but ultimately he couldn’t turn down the chance to play for Rangers and in front of the Ibrox crowd.
He comes in on a two year deal and as their Player of the Year, and having been named in the Championship Team of the Year.
With spells at clubs like Manchester City, Newcastle United, QPR and even in France with Marseille, has also got an England cap.
409 appearances have seen him score 36 times, but the strength to his game isn’t his eye for a goal.
Speaking to the Official Site after completing the formalities of his move, Barton explained.
‘It was very simple. I came up, had a look around and was instantly impressed – both with what is happening at the club just now but also the history and tradition of the place. I was fortunate enough to have probably the best tour guide possible in a ‘Hall of Fame` member in Davie Weir who showed me around the ground and the trophy room, and it was great to see everything this club has achieved in the past, but it`s also exciting to be writing some new history. The gaffer and players here have made incredible progress in the last 12 months. When given the opportunity, I was mindful that the club had a huge game in the Cup Final at the weekend, and I didn`t really want anything to distract from that.’
He also went on to add that obviously he had friends and family to speak to, but for him, he knew instantly he wanted to make the move happen as he felt it would fit for him as he goes into the twilight years of his playing career.
‘I knew it was a place that offered me an incredible challenge and an incredible opportunity, and I am so grateful and so happy to finally be a Rangers player, and I am really looking forward to the challenges ahead. Coming off the back of the season I have just had, there was obviously interest, but for me, it was beyond that. I`m at the stage in my career – and I`m fortunate to be there – where I really want to focus on challenges. It`s been well documented in the past about what playing football is to me – it`s no longer a financially driven part of my life. It`s something I have to connect with and something that gives me a real opportunity and a real challenge, and from that perspective, it was irrelevant who else was at the table as there was no greater opportunity, I didn`t feel, for what I want to do and for what this football club wants to do.’
