Liverpool star Trent Alexander Arnold has named ex-Rangers winger Brandon Barker as the most formidable opponent who never made it to the top.
In comments which many Rangers supporters might find remarkable, the England international claims the now free-agent 27-year-old “destroyed” him as a youth player.
A product of the Manchester City Academy, it’s in keeping with the story of Brandon Barker and the comments of Trent Alexander Arnold might have Rangers fans thinking what might’ve been.
Trent Alexander Arnold was responding to a question from Liverpool TV on who was the best player he ever played against who “never made it to the top”.
“I would say Brandon Barker, played for [Manchester] City,” said Trent Alexander Arnold.
“I was 18, playing for the Under-21s, first ever time at Anfield, got beat 3-0. He scored two and got an assist. I came off at 60 [minutes].
“Still to this day, he’s the opponent I think that just destroyed me, man. I’ve never had it like that before.
“At that point, I’m thinking ‘this kid is going to be the best player in the world’.
“Because I’d never seen someone move so quickly and sharp and effectively, so I’d say Brandon Barker.”
Trent Alexander Arnold has Rangers thinking what might’ve been with Brandon Barker
The comments of Trent Alexander Arnold are not the first time Rangers will have heard this sort of thing about Brandon Barker and they tell their own story.
According to former Ibrox teammate Andy Halliday, Brandon Barker was “the best trainer” he has ever seen and raved about the ex-Rangers winger’s ability to Open Goal.
But for whatever reason it has never happened at the top level for the winger who spent two-and-a-half years at Ibrox between 2019 and 2022.
Having turned out for Hibs for a season on loan from Manchester City, Rangers fans had seen glimpses of the winger’s quality in Scotland but he could never replicate it at Ibrox.
It’s clear that the attacker has always struggled to take his game to that matchday level and Rangers fans will be left thinking what might’ve been.
Having initially been farmed out on loan to Oxford United in 2021, the winger joined Reading and then Omonia Nicosia in Cyprus before being released in the summer.
Now without a club, perhaps the comments of Trent Alexander Arnold will convince someone else to take a punt on Brandon Barker and help the England youth international finally reach his obvious potential.
In total Barker played 27 times for Rangers, scoring three goals.
