'Clubs rejected me because I'm old' - Leon Balogun opens up

Super Eagles defender Leon Balogun has talked out his ordeal during the recently concluded summer transfer window.

Balogun, who is 34 years old now, became a free agent at the end of the 2021/22 season after Scottish giants Rangers chose to not extend his contract with them.

The Nigeria international was training alone and left without a club till late August when English Championship side Queens Park Rangers (QPR) signed him on a one-year free transfer deal.

Balogun has since helped QPR to the top of the Championship table, featuring in eight (8) league matches as well as scoring his first goal for the club in the recent 2-1 victory over Wigan Athletic.

However, the Super Eagles defender revealed that it was not always smooth sailing for him as he faced a 'challenging' summer after he was released by Rangers.

The former Brighton defender explained that some clubs refused to sign him simply because of his age.

Balogun told Football League World: "It was a long summer. I stayed up in Glasgow the whole time just trying to stay fit and not to lose my mind, but it was very, very challenging. I can’t lie.

“That’s the game nowadays. They see a certain number, which is the age, and they are like ‘nah’."

However, the Super Eagles defender revealed that he knew what he was still capable of till his former coach at Rangers, Michael Beale took a chance on him and signed him for QPR.

“That’s what I had to deal with loads in the beginning, which obviously made it even more challenging because I know what I’m still capable of," Balogun explained.

"It was just a matter of who is out there that believes in it? When QPR really had a go at me, I was like ‘right, let’s get this over the line. Let me reunite with Mick and see if we can be as successful as possible."

Queens Park Rangers have won 62.5% of their matches when Balogun has featured, winning five (5), losing two (2), and drawing one (1) of the eight (8) matches the Super Eagles defender has played this season