Ross Barkley in fresh career blow as ex-Chelsea star is axed from Nice’s Europa Conference League squad
ROSS BARKLEY has been snubbed from Nice’s squad for the Europa Conference League knockout stages.
The 29-year-old joined the French club last September after leaving Chelsea by mutual consent.
While he hasn’t been a weekly starter, Barkley has made 15 appearances in all competitions for Nice this season.
So boss Didier Digard’s decision to omit Barkley from the 25-man Europa Conference League knockouts squad, according to Get French Football News, comes as a surprise.
Barkley, who has 33 England caps, also wasn’t part of the squad for the group stages.
However, that was because he joined the club too late to be registered.
Reports suggest he had been expected to be named in the squad for the knockouts, with three spots up for grabs.
But January signings Terem Moffi and Youssouf Ndayishimiye, as well as youngster Badredine Bouanani, have got the nod instead.
Bouanani, 18, makes the squad despite starting just one game this season.
Although the teenager does play on the right hand side, and an injury to Arsenal loanee Nicolas Pepe means the club could be short of options in that position.
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But Barkley’s omission still comes as a shock, especially after he scored twice in a 6-1 win over Montpellier last month.
The Ligue 1 outfit will discover their opponents for the Round of 16 when the draw is made on February 24th.
Barkley is out of contract at Nice at the end of the season.