Forgotten City ace tipped to star in Cyprus – and he faced Man Utd this season
There are far worse places to spend the prime of one's football career than on the banks of the Mediterranean, but Brandon Barker is unlikely to have pictured himself playing in Cyprus at the age of 26.
That's the reality the former Manchester City academy prospect has come to terms with since leaving the Etihad Stadium in 2019. A former Academy Players' Player of the Year, the Manchester native was touted to do great things for his hometown club but instead struggled to fulfil expectations.
But Barker is making the most of his sojourn in Cyprus, having moved to Omonia Nicosia in June 2022 after a three-month stint with Reading. The diminutive winger has even faced off against City's bitter rivals, Manchester United, this season after the pair collided twice in the Europa League group stage.
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City's current head of editorial, Rob Pollard, wrote for Bleacher Report in 2015 that Barker 'almost certainly' had the tools at his disposal to invade the first-team ranks at the Etihad Stadium. However, he added the caveat that the then-18-year-old's career 'could easily go one of two ways' – and it appears he's trodden that 'other' path.
But after a string of short-lived loans amounting to little and a Scottish Premiership title win at Rangers, Barker appears to have found contentment in the capital of Cyprus. Almost halfway through the two-year deal he signed at the GSP Stadium last June, the wide man is already close to eclipsing the number of Rangers appearances he made in three seasons at Ibrox.
Barker has notched a goal and two assists in 17 league outings under Sofronis Avgousti, who succeeded former Celtic chief Neil Lennon after he was sacked in October 2022. And the Englishman appears to have grown on the Cypriot native, who has made Barker a more prominent member of his squad since the autumn.
The Red Devils beat 'The Clover' twice in the opening round of the Europa League draw, with Barker playing an hour in a 3-2 home defeat back in October. He failed to make it off the bench in his England comeback at Old Trafford the following week, however, as Omonia surrendered 1-0 and finished without a point in their pool.
Having grown up sporting City's colours as a youth, Barker will no doubt hope that doesn't prove to be his last clash against his former employer's nemeses.
Only four appearances for the Royals during his last spell on English soil will have surely left a poor taste in his mouth, though any chance for redemption closer to home could be too great to pass up. Barker has also turned out for Rotherham, Preston North End and Oxford United in earlier loans, scoring three goals in 19 League One outings at the latter.
There could be another return to Europe next season should Omonia beat rivals AEL Limassol to clinch the Cypriot Cup and land a spot in the Europa Conference League. With sunny beaches abound and regular shots at continental competition, Barker may not be in any rush to return to more conventional routes anytime soon.
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