Barnes: Morelos is a fantastic player – but Edouard is an all-rounder
WHO is better: Odsonne Edouard or Alfredo Morelos?
That is the question that has sparked heated debate among Celtic and Rangers fans over the past few years and will no doubt continue to do so until the pair leave Glasgow’s goldfish bowl and move on to bigger and better things.
For supporters from the city’s east end it is a no-brainer, with Edouard scooping the Premiership top goalscorer award last term with 21 goals in 27 league outings.
Those of an Ibrox persuasion, though, maintain that Morelos is the best striker in Scotland, pointing to his record in Europe where the Colombian boasts an impressive 18 goals over the past two seasons in the Europa League.
John Barnes scored his fair share of goals during a trophy-laden career for both club and country, but he reckons the pair should both be held in high esteem and appreciated as individuals instead of being compared against one another.
When asked which of the two he prefers, Barnes said: “Well, I mean, Edouard has won league. Celtic have won the league for the last few years, and he’s been a consistent player. But Morelos has also been very good for Rangers.
“Edouard is probably more of a team player. If you look at what he gives to the team.
“Morelos scores a lot of goals, and he’s much more of an individual. They’re both equally effective, but I think that Edouard is more of a team player, whereas Morelos is more of an individual.”
Barnes, who had an ill-fated spell as manager of Celtic during the 1999/00 season, also reckons the striking duo would be well suited to the Premier League if they made the decision to move down south.
He added: “They’ve got the quality. I don’t know whether they’ve got the quality to play for Liverpool or Manchester City or Chelsea, but they’ve definitely got the quality to play in the Premier League.
“Maybe not the better clubs. Maybe a smaller one. I don’t think either of them are going to come and take the place of Mo Salah or Roberto Firmino or first-team players at Manchester City or Chelsea. Playing in the Premier League, I think they could both do well.”
Edouard has been linked with a move away from Parkhead this summer with Newcastle, Leeds, Crystal Palace and Arsenal all reportedly keeping tabs on the forward’s situation.
Celtic are hopeful of keeping their talismanic striker at the club ahead of the new season with so much on the line. However, Barnes doesn’t believe the Frenchman is key to the champions securing a tenth successive title next season.
He continued: “Celtic have a stronger squad than Rangers. Rangers are improving all the time, after Steven Gerard, they got better year after year.
“But Celtic will still be favourites, so I don’t necessarily think that they’ll have to keep Edouard to win the league, because I’m sure if they sell him, they will replace him.
“I think that Celtic are better placed at this moment in time to win 10-in-a-row. But I don’t think they necessarily need to keep him to do that.
“As you see with Virgil Van Dijk and Moussa Dembele before him, players who do well at Celtic, then they will go to a place where they’re going to get more money.
“So, I’m sure that if he goes, they will have somebody lined up to replace him.”
■ John Barnes was speaking to BonusCodeBets.co.uk.