There was a time when Rangers star Borna Barisic was being mentioned amongst the finest left-backs in the UK and Europe, his delivery a thing of envy for clubs across the country.
So much so that the likes of AS Roma and Napoli were being linked in Italy and one report even had Tottenham Hotspur potentially valuing the Croatian international at £22m [90min.com].
But over the course of this season old habits have died hard for the talented 29-year-old who has regressed back into the sensitive full-back who joined the Gers in 2018.
Nothing sums this up better with reports that Watford had offered a fraction of that price for his services in January, bidding a meagre £1.5m.
Signed by manager Steven Gerrard after Europa League qualifiers against Croat side NK Osijek – the team Barisic coincidentally captained – it took a season or so for the wing-back to develop.
In that period, we saw glimpses of the crossing talent which saw him dovetail so perfectly with James Tavernier in his Ibrox pomp and when he did find his feet the club signed him down until 2024.
Barisic too has a wicked ability at dead balls and when Rangers were at their best under Steven Gerrard, Michael Beale and the rest, Borna Barisic provided symmetry at left-back.
Borna Barisic has downturn in Rangers form
Somewhere along the road Borna has stumbled again into the player who had Gerrard scowling in 2018 during a behind close doors friendly and someone who looks a timid version of himself.
It’s a shame – there were times in his Rangers career when Borna Barisic had quite the opposite approach on the pitch and looked a committed, full-blooded footballer alongside his technical ability.
But the two appear remarkably linked and when Barisic is mentally suffering so are his performances on the pitch.
Summed up by him being hooked in that 3-0 hammering at Celtic Park, Borna hasn’t quite recovered and when called on through necessity has looked shaky, albeit impressing v Dortmund.
The emergence of Calvin Bassey – both at centre-back and at left-back – has seen Borna slip down the pecking order and it’ll be interesting to see what happens with him in the summer.
In the meantime, there is still a role to play for Borna Barisic this season and when called upon, the left-back still has it in him to make a telling contribution as the club battle on three fronts.
Meanwhile, a once Rangers-linked international striker has made a revelation about a release clause following his relegation with a Euro top flight club.
