ROSS Barkley rolled back the years for current club OGC Nice as he scored a stunner during a 3-2 comeback victory.
The forgotten ex-England and Chelsea man joined the French club in September 2022 and is one of four former Premier League stars plying their trade on the French Riviera.
The club are owned by prospective Manchester United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe through his company INEOS.
Under Ratcliffe’s ownership, the club has a decisively ex-Premier League feel to it, with Barkley joined in Nice by former Arsenal stars Aaron Ramsey and Nicolas Pepe and former Leicester goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.
Barkley, who played 33 times for England, scoring six goals, struggled to live up to his potential after joining Chelsea from Everton for £15m in January 2018.
Injuries saw him struggle to establish himself in the side as he gradually fell down the Chelsea pecking order and out of the England reckoning.
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A successful loan spell at Aston Villa during the Covid-dominated 2020/21 season raised hopes of a career revival after he scored three goals and assisted one during his 24 appearances for the Villains.
But after making only eight appearances for Chelsea the following season, he joined Nice as a free agent when his contract was terminated by the Blues.
The midfielder has largely been used as a rotation player for Nice this season, but dazzled fans with his goal against Montpellier having started the game on Saturday.
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His side were trailing 2-0 away from home after a first half brace from Montpellier talisman Teji Savanier.
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Barkley’s 53rd minute strike was enough to inspire Nice to a comeback victory, with striker Gaetan Laborde scoring twice to complete the side’s victory.
Barkley’s four goals for Nice this season is his best tally since scoring five for Everton in the 2016/17 season, when he made 39 appearances for The Toffees.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
