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News
Pundit hails ‘outstanding’ Rangers star who has eclipsed former team-mate at Celtic
While Leon Balogun has played his part in a sensational domestic season for Rangers and impressive Europa League run, it’s been a campaign to forget for one of his former Brighton team-mates.
Balogun played alongside Shane Duffy for the Seagulls, and the pair found themselves on opposite sides in Glasgow this season.
For Duffy, it’s been a disastrous period. The Irish defender has made several high-profile errors at the back, and has seen his team exit three cup competitions while timidly surrendering their Premiership title to Rangers.
Another Brighton man, however, says it was Balogun who would have been considered less likely to be a success in Scotland.
Duffy had kept Balogun out of the Brighton side, and his arrival in Glasgow was met with considerably greater fanfare than that of the Nigerian.
Adam Virgo enjoyed two spells with Brighton during a playing career that also saw him spend three years at Celtic.
He believes Ibrox boss Steven Gerrard and his assistant Gary McAllister deserve credit for the 32-year-old’s success, as well as the player himself.
Speaking to , Virgo said: “If you asked any Brighton fan in the summer who would be the most successful in Scotland between Leon Balogun and Shane Duffy then, 100%, they would have said the latter.
“People would probably have thought Shane could have gone to another Premier League side at that time but as an Irishman the move to Celtic was one he craved.
“Celtic spent a lot of money despite it only being a loan deal but it’s been an absolute disaster. That’s football – you think some players will rise to the occasion and really blossom and others will struggle.
“When Shane Duffy signed for Brighton pundits were applauding him and I’m sure if you read the comments below the picture of him signing for Celtic on social media then every fan would have said ‘brilliant signing’.
“It seemed like a signing Celtic needed. I don’t know him personally but it feels like when things go against him it completely goes against him.
“When he first signed for Brighton from Blackburn he made a few mistakes early on and I feel when things are going against him it’s difficult for him to get out of it.
“I wouldn’t say Rangers took a punt on Leon Balogun because he’s an international who moved to an English Premier League side but he wasn’t a high profile signing.
“That’s where Steven Gerrard and Gary McAllister deserve huge credit because Rangers have been outstanding defensively and it’s testament to them as a coaching staff as that wasn’t their side of the game as players.
“But when you’ve got players like Alfredo Morelos in your side who can score then the defensive side wins you the league and this season they’ve won some tight games where they’ve had to really stick in and keep those clean sheets and Leon has been a big part of that.
“Credit to him because he must have taken a big knock being released from Brighton to Wigan in League One and now to have a Scottish Premiership winners’ medal.
“And it’s not like he’s been a bit-part player. He had decent run in the Europa League games where Rangers had a strong run and you can clearly see Steven Gerrard has got the best out of him.
“He’s 32 and helps with the younger players as well so I’m sure Nathan Patterson will be learning from him even though Leon isn’t a natural right back.
“When Brighton first got promoted to the Premier League Shane Duffy and Lewis Dunk were the two for Chris Hughton but in the second season they felt they needed an extra body.
“Leon came in on a free from Mainz and you could clearly see he was coming in as a back up and not a player to push those two. He was pretty dependable but unfortunately he made one or two mistakes and they all seemed to lead to goals.
“He needed a run of games at Brighton to really settle in because he’d go away with Nigeria and play really well and then come back and sit on the bench for a load of games.
“He also picked up a few injuries as well so it was difficult to build any momentum and stake a place in the starting XI, but full compliments to him because he’s been outstanding for Rangers.”