Rangers assistant manager David Weir has admitted that the Gers thought Joey Barton was an “unachievable” target.

The midfielder, who joined Rangers on a two-year deal yesterday, had been in great form after joining Burnley from Queens Park Rangers last summer.




Barton made 38 league appearances for Burnley in the 2015/16 campaign, scoring three times and providing as many assists.

The former Manchester City and Newcastle United man’s exploits played a key role in helping Burnley gain promotion back to the Premier League, while he was named in the Championship’s Team of the Year.
 


However, Barton decided not to extend his one-year deal with Burnley and instead opted to sign for Rangers on a free transfer.

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And Weir, who has experience of playing against Barton, feels the 33-year-old is a perfect signing for the Scottish giants.

“I think it is a massive signing, I really do”, he was quoted as saying by the Herald Scotland.

"I think for us to have the opportunity to sign a player of that calibre was probably outwith what we expected.

“So it’s been a long process, it’s been difficult, and to get him in the building, I think, says a lot about the work that has gone on. I’ve known him for a long time, playing against him and obviously watching him as well.

“He’s a fantastic talent and has all the attributes that we need within our team to add to what we have already got. So he ticks all the boxes in regards to both personality and ability.

“I think it’s a massive coup, as I said. I think he’s possibly a player we thought was unachievable in regards to, in many people’s eyes, the best player in the Championship last season.

"Obviously Joey’s profile is big, it adds to the club, but his ability is the most important thing and the level he played at last year in the Championship in England, which is a really difficult league, makes it a perfect signing for us.”

Barton, who is a product of Manchester City’s youth system, has a single senior cap for England to his name which he earned in 2007 in a friendly against Spain.