Thu03282024

Last update02:06:32 PM

Today Live:

Articles

England manager Fabio Capello is ignoring me says QPR captain Joey Barton

Barton, who has one England cap, has not given up hope of breaking into the England squad before the European Championships in the summer, although his latest snub would appear to confirm he is not in Capello’s thinking.

With Steven Gerrard and Jack Wilshere already missing through injury, Barton is far lower in the pecking order than he thinks he should be.

He added: “Am I the difference between winning the World Cup or the European Cup? I would like to think so, but realistically I know I’m not.

“It would be great to go, it would be a great experience and I think I could add to it, but am I the difference? Wayne Rooney could be the difference between us winning it or not, Joey Barton certainly wouldn’t be.”

Barton received just one offer in the summer as he entered the final year of his contract at Newcastle, although he claims there was firm interest from Arsenal despite Arsene Wenger’s failure to make any bid.

“There was interest from what I’ve been told, “ said Barton in an interview with Sky Sports News. “But there is a big difference between a club showing interest and it getting over the line.

“If I’d have gone there, replacing Fabregas would have been big boots to fill and I’m sure the reaction would have been, ‘he’s no Fabregas.’

“People say ‘why did you leave Newcastle to go to QPR?’ But no matter which way you dress it up, Newcastle’s didn’t want me. The fans wanted me, the other players wanted me, but the powers that be didn’t. I think it’s worked out best for both parties that I left.”