“It doesn’t make sense on the football side. When people from England go and play for Celtic and Rangers it is at the end of their careers. That’s because it is very rare you get a move from Rangers to the Premier League, and I don’t mean any disrespect by that.
“They might go from Rangers to the Championship, very rarely is it to the Premier League. For me he should stay in England and keep progressing. The move should benefit Joe.”
Verdict
Bowyer might have claimed he doesn’t mean any disrespect, but these comments do just that.
To claim Aribo will see no progression by moving from a decent sized English club to a giant like Rangers is ridiculous. He will be playing in front of more fans at Ibrox than anywhere in the Championship. Few Premier League venues can compete with Ibrox, either.
What’s more, he’ll experience competing for silverware under enormous pressure.
Oh, and there’s the minor factor of European football too. Last season the Gers turned out against the likes of Villarreal and Spartak Moscow. Not many English clubs can offer those sorts of fixtures.
Sure, Scottish football isn’t perfect. But, Bowyer’s comments here smack of bitterness.
He’s lost one of his brightest sparks to Rangers and it’s clearly touched a nerve. Let’s hope Aribo proves him wrong and goes from strength to strength after making the move north of the border.
