MusaFormer Rangers Duo Lundstram and Barisic Set for Trabzonspor Exit After Just One Year
John Lundstram and Borna Barisic, who left Rangers last summer, have reportedly been told they can leave Trabzonspor just 12 months after joining the Turkish club.
The pair moved to Trabzon as free agents after their contracts at Ibrox expired, but their time in Turkey has been far from smooth.
Lundstram made 44 appearances across all competitions, scoring four goals, but faced fierce criticism early on. After Trabzonspor’s penalty shootout defeat to Swiss side St. Gallen in the Conference League, sections of the fanbase demanded his contract be terminated.
Meanwhile, Barisic struggled with injuries, managing only 15 appearances before being loaned to La Liga’s Leganes. His stint there ended disastrously—just 10 minutes into his debut against Valencia, he suffered a serious cruciate ligament tear, ruling him out for the rest of the season.
Despite being due back for pre-season this month, Turkish outlet Gunebakis reports that neither player features in manager Fatih Tekke’s plans for the upcoming campaign. Lundstram still has two years left on his contract, while Barisic has just 12 months remaining.
Their impending exits come weeks after their former Rangers boss, Philippe Clement, indirectly blamed them for the club’s faltering title bid in the 2023/24 season.
Rangers had gone nine games unbeaten between January and March but dropped crucial points in defeats to Motherwell and Ross County, along with a goalless draw against Dundee, ultimately finishing eight points behind Celtic.
Though Clement didn’t name them directly, he suggested that two soon-to-be free agents were distracted by contract talks rather than fully focused on the pitch.
Speaking to BBC Scotland earlier this month, Clement said: “There are some stories if you look back. Nobody expected Rangers to be in a title race when we arrived in October, but the players fought hard. However, in the end, we lost at Ross County and drew with Dundee. Two players who underperformed in those games left on free transfers.”
“At that point, they were likely preoccupied with discussions about their futures. Did they not want to win? Of course they did. But being in the final months of a contract can affect focus. As a club, we must avoid such situations in crucial moments
Musa
