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Former Charlton boss Chris Powell reckons Joe Aribo has made a mistake moving to Rangers.

Powell has backed current Addicks boss Lee Bowyer's controversial claim that the 22-year-old would have been better served staying with the London club in the Championship.

And he warned a season spent in the second tier of English football would have been better for Aribo's chances of winning a big move.

His comments come just weeks after the midfielder clinched a £300,000 move to Ibrox.

Steven Gerrard won the chase for the highly-rated player with Brentford also interested - but Bowyer was left frustrated after failing to persuade last year's star man to extend his stay at The Valley.

Bowyer claimed Brentford would have been a better move and hit out: "Tell me how many players over the past few years that have gone to Rangers and then gone on to the Premier League? Joe should have stayed in England."

Now Powell has chosen to take a swipe at the player's decision. Despite the game north of the border proving to be the perfect launch pad for stars such as Andy Robertson, Virgil Van Dijk and John McGinn in recent years, Powell isn't convinced the move to Ibrox was right for Aribo.

“He’ll do well in Scotland for sure," he told London-based News Shopper .

“He’s got the talent but I’m not too sure he should’ve gone, in my personal opinion.

(Image: SNS Group)

“I think he should’ve stayed at Charlton or maybe looked at one or two other options but it’s his decision.

“I think for a player like him to be playing at Championship level, I think he would’ve alerted a lot more teams.

“Hopefully he’ll go to Rangers and play, that’s the most important thing for a young player.

“It’s disappointing I’m sure for many Charlton fans and especially Lee as manager.

“He’s lost a real talent, but they’ll produce someone else because Charlton always do at academy level. Joe’s a real talent and I think he’ll definitely prove that in Scotland.”

Aribo made his competitive debut for Rangers as a second half substitute in Tuesday's Europa League qualifying thrashing of St Joseph's.

The powerful midfielder was the star of Charlton's season as they clinched promotion back to the Championship via the play-offs, scoring 10 times in 39 appearances.

Bowyer's words last month provoked a stinging response from former Rangers striker Kris Boyd who said: "There are few bigger in Britain and even world football than Rangers and Celtic.

"If Joe wants to move on to further his career then so be it.

"I can't quite work out why you'd want to be so disrespectful to Rangers or Celtic because, I'll tell you one thing, if Lee Bowyer was offered the Rangers or Celtic job he would jump at the chance to take it."