Ex Rangers star who hasn't kicked a ball in 12 months set for emotional return to financially crippled first club
Croatian international has endured a torrid time with injuries since leaving Ibrox - but is now braced to head back to his boyhood club
Former Rangers defensive stalwart Borna Barisic is braced to make an emotional return to his first club Osijek after not kicking a ball for almost a year due to injury.
The Croatian international, who turned 33 last month, has been unattached since his release by Turkish side Trabzonspor at the start of the season.
He was shipped out on loan to struggling La Liga side Leganes last term after being frozen out of the first-team picture at the Super Lig club, but suffered a serious knee injury on his debut with the Madrid-based club almost a year ago.
Barisic has now returned to full fitness after carrying out individual training sessions and is reportedly close to re-joining his boyhood club who currently sit bottom of the Croatian top-flight amid financial problems.
Fans have been protesting against the club’s board, but they have still managed to persuade the 35-capped full-back to join them when the January window opens, having previously made a name for himself with Osijek before signing for Rangers in a deal worth £2.2 million in 2018.
He made 236 appearances in total for the Govan giants and started the 2022 Europa League Final before heading for pastures new in June last year.
How Borna Barisic’s career has spiralled since leaving Ibrox
However, his career has stalled dramatically since then, so much so that Trabzonspor did not release an official statement regarding the termination of Barisic’s contract after both parties became embroiled in a stand-off.
Clubs in Turkey were restricted to the number of foreign players they could have in their squad, leaving Barisic on the outside looking in. And his situation is understood to have led to a full-on ‘crisis’ behind the scenes as Trabzonspor tried desperately to get him out the door.
Borna Barisic opens up on his relationship with Steven Gerrard at Rangers
Barisic credits former Gers manager Steven Gerrard for having a significant impact on his career, admitting that a “part of me left” when the Liverpool icon departed the club for Aston Villa.
Speaking exclusively to the Daily Record, Barisic said: “Oh my God, how big was Steven’s influence on me? Before now, I probably didn’t want to answer that question because he was my manager, my coach. But now I can.
“He had SO much influence – like no one ever before in my career. When I played under Steven, I thought I could fly. That’s the effect he had on my mindset. First of all, he brought me to the club along with Mark Allen.
“So he trusted me from day one. Then, after a hard first year, he kept me at Rangers, which meant a lot. After that, I started to play some amazing football under him. My second year at Rangers, and the season we won the league, that was the best I’ve ever played. It’s hard to describe how big an impact he had on me. I just love the guy. And I’ll be honest. From the moment he left, it felt like part of me had also gone.