Lee Bowyer revisits controversial Charlton Athletic, Rangers claims | OneFootball

Former Charlton Athletic boss Lee Bowyer has admitted it was the “right move” for Joe Aribo to move to Rangers in 2019 despite his controversial comments at the time.

The 26-year-old swapped The Valley for Ibrox on a free transfer in the summer of 2019 in a move that left Bowyer frustrated.

Aribo had established himself as a key player in the Charlton side that won promotion from League One in 2018/19 and Bowyer did not hold back in his criticism of the player’s decision to reject a new contract offer in favour of a move north of the border – claiming he was making a big mistake.

The attacking midfielder went on to win the SPFL title and play in a Europa League final with Rangers before securing a move to Premier League side Southampton in the summer.

Speaking on talkSPORT (via footballscotland), Bowyer was forced to revisit his controversial comments about Aribo’s decision and admitted that he made the right choice.

He said: “Obviously from a selfish point of view I wanted him to stay with me and Charlton. He was going in a direction as a player, improving all the time and scoring goals.

“He was just a sub at Charlton when I first went in there and then all of a sudden he’s talking about going up to Rangers. I felt a bit hurt by it because I thought ‘hold on, I’ve looked after you here and I’ve pushed you and got you to have that option. Just give me a year in the Championship’. Which would’ve been also good for his career.

“Looking back at it, I’m not a silly person and everyone’s entitled to their opinion and that was mine at the time. But I look back at it, and Joe is now playing in the Premier League and by going to Rangers I think that playing in Europe has given him more experience than what he would’ve got playing for Brentford, because Brentford were in for him as well.

“So I think it was the right move going to Rangers. And I’m not just backtracking because Scotsmen gave me a bit of stick. Playing in Europe, I know how good that is for your career.

“It’s rewarding for me because I helped him get on that journey.”

The 45-year-old left Charlton himself in March 2021 before swiftly taking the Birmingham City job but was sacked in July and remains available.

Quiz: Have any of these 25 ex-Charlton Athletic players ever played for a Yorkshire based team?

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The Verdict

Bowyer’s comments about Aribo’s move were controversial at the time and you have to credit the former Charlton boss for admitting he was wrong.

It must’ve been frustrating to see a key player leave on a free transfer just after the Addicks had secured promotion to the Championship but it’s hard to argue with what he achieved at Rangers.

His time at Ibrox earned him a Premier League move as well, which as an English-born player must’ve been a dream come true for the 26-year-old.

It’s an impressive rise for Aribo, who joined Charlton from non-league team Staines Town FC in 2015.