Joey Barton believes he is heading to Rangers at the peak of his powers as a player and insists he has not moved to Scotland as part of an early retirement plan.

The controversial midfielder helped Burnley win promotion from the Championship to the Premier League this season, but despite being offered a new contract by the Clarets has opted to head north to Ibrox.




The 33-year-old has put pen to paper on a two-year deal and will be lining up for Rangers in the top flight of Scottish football next term, with expectations around Mark Warburton's team sky high.

And Barton feels he can play his part in helping to meet them, however he knows he has to prove himself at his new club and vowed he will leave the assessment over where he is in his career to Warburton and the Gers faithful.
 


"I don't know [if I am playing the best football of my career]. I'm not the best person to answer that", he told Rangers TV.

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"The people who pay the money and the people who select the team are the people to answer that.

"I know what kind of slot I'm in at the moment. Mentally, physically, emotionally, where I'm at", Barton continued.

"Everything is geared towards me kicking on and performing better. I've got an incredible amount of momentum off the back of the last four or five seasons.

"I know where I am at in terms of performance level.

"But you've still got to turn up for the first day of pre-season and perform. That's where it's done, on the training ground, in your daily habits, your daily routine.

"It's not a case of I've done this last year I will just turn up and this will automatically fall into place."

Barton insists he has serious business at Rangers and is not at the club to simply see out his career in a less competitive environment.

"I know this won't be a cakewalk. I'm not coming here as some part of an early retirement plan.

"I'm coming here as a player who feels at the peak of his powers, improving and as someone who is intent on showing the supporters and my team-mates what a positive impact I can have as a human being and a footballer."