Move over, Jonathan Woodgate; we have a new candidate for the worst debut of all time: former Rangers full-back Borna Barisic’s terrible first appearance in a Leganes shirt.
An outing cut short after only ten minutes.
This was not Borna Barisic’s nightmare. Unlike Woodgate’s memorable Real Madrid debut, which included an own goal and a red card, the Croatia international’s suffering was caused by pure misfortune rather than stupidity.
Leganes announced that Barisic, Rangers’ January transfer from Trabzonspor, had damaged his anterior cruciate ligament after colliding with the ground clutching his knee. An injury that will keep him out for the majority, if not all, of the calendar year.
Furthermore, given that the seasoned full-back is set to turn 33 in November, there are legitimate concerns that the curtain has been drawn prematurely on a career that should have had a few years left.
Far younger players than Rangers’ former number three have failed to stage a comeback following such a severe injury.
Leganes break quiet as Borna Barisic’s post-Rangers misery continues. The relegation-threatened club will be without a player whose enormous experience was expected to make a difference in their fight against the drop.
Borja Jimenez’s team faces Deportivo Alaves in a six-pointer this weekend.
And, speaking out for the first time since the seriousness of Barisic’s injury was revealed, Leganes’ head coach hopes that happier times are on the way after a week that tested even the most optimistic of men.
“He is upset because he has had bad luck. It has been the most difficult week of the year emotionally,” the embattled Borja sighs, Leganes losing 2-0 at fellow strugglers Valencia days after suffering Copa del Rey heartbreak to Real Madrid and going down to ten-men in a home defeat by Rayo Vallecano.
“I felt guilty. [Barisic] comes to help and he can’t. He has to be helped, so that the operation goes well.
“I think that what happens around the club affects everyone. Here and in all clubs. We are people. We have feelings. Last week, a lot of negative things happened to us. On a mental level, the other day they were affected, especially by what happened with Barisic.
“That situation is complex.”
Barisic has had a difficult time since leaving Ibrox. Borja
who plunged him into the deep end when Leganes needed a left-back option, suddenly finds himself back in the same awkward situation.
The coach dropped Javi Hernandez, his go-to left-sided defender for the first few months of the season, in order to make room for a new acquisition. Now that Lady Luck has struck Leganes again, Borja may be forced to uncomfortably return Hernandez to the role Barisic was expected to play at the Estadio Municipal Butarque.
Meanwhile, news of a likely nine-month layoff brings the former NK Osijek wideman’s terrible first season away from Ibrox to a close.
Barisic failed to find a place at Trabzonspor, in stark contrast to John Lundstram, and his move to Spain was supposed to be a fresh start.
Instead, that new adventure means months of agonizing recuperation and a career on hold.
