Bank Rangers : In the last four years, there has been more than one flag-bearer for the SPFL in Qatar. It’s not that many people seem to have noticed.
Josip Juranovic, Celtic’s Celtic’s Josip has been receiving plaudits from pundits and punters alike for his performances for Croatia during their semi-finals run. With the full back eyeing a move to buy him, his price tag is rising every day. Juranovic admitted that he is not a 30-million euro player, but it’s clear that the PS2.5m signing will bring them a substantial profit due to Qatar.
Borna Barisic, his international friend and domestic rival, has been much more relaxed. It’s a fair point. Although the Rangers’ man has only played one match, it was a great performance in Croatia’s hard-fought draw against Japan and penalty shootout win over Japan. This is something Mick Beale, the Gers’ new boss, should be proud of.
Barisic is an unusual case at Ibrox. He was not so long ago being discussed with the same type of telephone number transfer fees currently being bandied around about his friend Juranovic. Now? It’s all about Ridvan Yilmaz polishing and buying another left-back, but little about Barisic getting back to 18 months ago.
He was a hot property back then, and he still looks like one. These images are very similar and sum up his last year. Barisic was greeting his fellow Ibrox hunks in August 2021 and waving goodbye to Celtic after the 2-1 win.
He was back at Celtic Park a few months later, crouching down on his heels, this time allowing Liel Abada to sneak behind him to score another goal in a derby drubbing, which wrested the title pendulum towards east end. He seemed to have never fully recovered from that night’s chasing. It looked like he was mentally ill from the Old Firm encounter earlier in campaign.
He seemed to be destined for a move to Roma by the deadline. This never happened and he has never been the same. There were some very good performances, though.
He was the man of the match in Rangers’ win over Celtic at Parkhead 2019 – their first victory there in almost a decade. Although he had some horror stories against the Hoops, he also caused them some grief with his left boot.
Beale wants to bring the old Ibrox band back together and could use a tune from Barisic after he returns from Qatar. Yilmaz is still uncertain. Yilmaz was a costly signing, but it is still a work in process.
