Ex-Scotland midfielder hails signing of Balogun amid criticism from some Rangers fans

Retired Scotland international midfielder Barry Ferguson has hailed the return of Leon Balogun to the Ibrox Stadium amid criticism from some Rangers fans.

  
Balogun has returned for a second spell at the Light Blues after he ran out of contract at Championship side Queens Park Rangers, whom he joined in August 2022 on a free transfer.

 
Rangers delved into the free agency market after Leon King suffered an injury which will rule the 19-year-old for a significant period of time but the signing of the Nigerian has divided the fans. 
 

Amid the criticism from naysayers, Ferguson hailed the decision of Rangers manager, Michael Beale to sanction the return of the Nigerian defender, noting that Balogun's arrival will correct the mistakes made in the past.

 
Ferguson claims that Balogun's departure in the summer of 2022 negatively affected Rangers' performance in the group stage of the Champions League.

 
"I’ve heard a bit of mumping and moaning from some Rangers fans following the return of Leon Balogun this week," Ferguson wrote in his column for the Daily Record. 

He added: "But they’re absolutely wrong. The truth is the people making the decisions last summer made a serious blunder when they allowed him to leave on a free transfer. 

"That’s why Gio van Bronckhorst ended up playing with James Sands, Leon King and John Lundstram as centre-halves in the group stages of the Champions League. And look how that turned out."

In his first spell at Rangers, Balogun totaled 65 appearances and netted two goals while registering three assists. 

Adeyemi Adewale

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