Ex-Rangers duo sign in at Trabzonspor for big money | OneFootball

Despite Trabzonspor not officially announcing it yet on any of their channels, ex-Rangers midfielder John Lundstram and defender Borna Barisic are now formally Trabzonspor players, having signed deals with the Turkish side who finished a distant third in the Super Lig last campaign.

Just like similarly-exiting Rangers man Ryan Kent last season, they’ve used their freedom of contract to go to the Mediterranean and take a risk with the high-paying Turkish league, and they will be hoping immensely that it pays off and doesn’t turn out for them like the ex-Liverpool winger’s disaster with Fenerbahce has.

It is a bit of a mercenary choice, in truth – two aging Rangers players, wrong side of 30, going for the big payday in Turkey and having been ‘warned’ by Kent’s shambolic time in that league that it’s definitely not for everyone.

Kent didn’t settle, didn’t shine, and his manager went off him quickly, especially when a loan deal to Roma was actually rejected by the winger. New manager Jose Mourinho isn’t interested.

Not that we’re saying Trabzonspor are the same as Fenerbahce, but Turkish clubs (and their press) have a very… difficult reputation throughout Europe, and it’s a very bold gamble for both former Ibrox players to go out there.

In truth, the reason they have is for money – it’s that simple. Trabzonspor are merely in the qualifiers for the Europa League and football-wise it’s not a club expected to challenge Gala or Fenerbahce for the title.

Turkey pays pretty well, and with these two at their age they wanted some long-term security at a good salary, something Rangers weren’t prepared to offer, and Turkey has given them that.

It is a bit sad they went there, but you go where the money is, and they went where the cash indeed was.

And that is pretty much that.