Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Gers were on the Bal with Leon
ADAM VIRGO admits there would have been no contest had Brighton fans been asked to tip a former Seagull to fly highest in Glasgow after becoming
Old Firm rivals last summer.
And the former Celtic defender insists they will be stunned it’s Leon Balogun who has helped clip the wings of Shane Duffy to become a champion.
It was Duffy who ensured Balogun’s opportunities at the Amex were limited as the Ireland international formed a solid pairing with Lewis Dunk.
Balogun was an emergency signing for Steven Gerrard after Niko Katic suffered a pre-season knee injury and his low-key arrival from Wigan was in contrast to the fanfare of Duffy’s arrival at Celtic.
But Virgo said: “If you asked any Brighton fan in the summer who’d be more successful in Scotland between Leon Balogun and Shane Duffy, 100 per cent, they’d 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 really blossom and others will struggle.
“I wouldn’t say Rangers took a punt on Leon, he’s an international who moved to a Premier League side but he wasn’t a high-profile signing.
“That’s where Steven Gerrard and Gary Mcallister deserve huge credit. Rangers have been outstanding defensively and it’s testament to them as that wasn’t their side of the game as players.”