Ex-Man City starlet who 'destroyed' Trent Alexander-Arnold at academy level now without club at 27

A former Manchester City player who was once described by Trent Alexander-Arnold as his toughest opponent at academy level is currently without a club aged 27.

In 2023, Alexander-Arnold was asked by Liverpool's official YouTube channel to give the name of the toughest player he had faced that subsequently didn't go on to make it at the highest level.

Given his extensive academy career as a right midfielder and right-back, and over 300 senior appearances for Liverpool, the England international had quite the list to choose from.

He eventually opted for winger Brandon Barker, who joined City's academy at the age of eight and was tipped as a rising star.

Barker was tipped for big things during his time in the academy, and gave Alexander-Arnold an early lesson when the two faced off.

Alexander-Arnold said: "I would say Brandon Barker, played for City [as toughest opponent].

"I was playing for the Under-21s, first ever time at Anfield, got beat 3-0. He scored two and got an assist. I came off at 60 minutes.

"Still to this day, he's the opponent I think that just destroyed me, man. I've never had it like that before.

"At that point, I'm thinking, 'This kid is going to be the best player in the world'. Because I'd never seen someone move so quickly and sharp, and effectively."

A winger whose key attribute was searing pace and dribbling ability, Barker would make his senior debut during a League Cup game in the 2015/16 season.

The Manchester-born winger subsequently spent time on loan at Championship side Rotherham, before spending the 2016/17 season on loan at Dutch second tier side NAC Breda.

During those temporary spells, he also made appearances for England age group sides at U18, U19 and U20 levels.

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He had a mixed 2018/19 season on loan at Preston North End in the Championship, before signing permanently for Scottish giants Rangers in the summer of 2019.

The winger found playing time hard to come by at Ibrox, making just 16 league appearances for the club before being released by mutual consent in January 2022.

He then had a short spell with Reading, before joining Cypriot side Omonia, at the time managed by Neil Lennon - where he faced off against Manchester United in a Europa League tie.

Barker spent the second half of the most recent campaign at League Two side Morecambe, but was limited to just two appearances after suffering a hamstring injury.

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But with the Shrimps in the midst of serious financial issues related to the current ownership, only five players remained under contract for next season at the time the club announced its retained list last month.

That has left Barker, who is now 27 years of age, currently without a club heading into the new campaign.

Speaking to the Lancaster Guardian earlier this year, then-Morecambe boss Ged Brannan - who left the club to join Accrington Stanley as assistant - expressed his 'disappointment' for the winger after his injury.

He said: "He's been the biggest disappointment for me - not him personally, but his injury - because I was desperate to see him play.

"Hopefully we can get him back for next season, because he would have been a top player in this division."

Morecambe's financial issues have prevented them from signing new players in recent months, but they have brought back Derek Adams as manager for a third spell with 'the job of building a competitive squad for the coming season'.

Whether Barker figures as part of those plans remains to be seen.