Steven Gerrard hits back at Lee Bowyer's damning Rangers criticism | OneFootball

Lee Bowyer’s negative comments on Rangers and Scottish football have not been well received by Steven Gerrard.

His Charlton side lost key man Joe Aribo to the Glasgow outfit for a paltry £300,000 cross-border compensation fee.

That led to an angry outburst from Bowyer, who warned the midfielder that he was making a mistake with such a move.

“When people from England go to play for Celtic and Rangers, it is the end of their careers,” Bowyer stated.

“It is very rare you get a move from Rangers to the Premier League and I don’t meany any disrespect by that.”

Gerrard bristled when quizzed on those comments and insisted that Ibrox is the perfect place for Aribo’s development.

“What a place this is for the next step of Joe’s career, it is the perfect place for him,” he said, per the Daily Record.

“He’s got the potential to be a top midfielder. He has all the attributes and I’m glad I have the opportunity to work with him.

“He can develop in front of 51,000 people, on European nights, in Old Firm games, in touch matches up and down the country.

“We should have [had to] pay a hell of a lot more for him. It is a hell of a coup and that will be proven in the future.”

The 23-year-old was a key figure in the Addicks’ promotion from League One to the Championship last season.