Gareth Barry Makes Cristiano Ronaldo Look Like an Angel

By: Daryl | July 2nd, 2008

And here we were thinking the Cristiano Ronaldo transfer wrangle would be the nastiest of the summer. We were wrong. Gareth Barry’s neverending move from Aston Villa to Liverpool is making the C-Ron saga look like a polite little tea party.

Liverpool have been making slowly increasing bids for the England midfielder over the last few weeks, with Villa holding out for £18 million. But Barry ran out of patience at the weekend and did the least classy thing he could think of: a wantaway interview with the News of the World.

Here’s a nice little excerpt:

“It’s seven weeks now since the season finished but while the gaffer’s found time to be a pundit for the BBC at Euro 2008, he hasn’t found the time to speak to me. But Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has shown how much he wants me at Anfield.

“I am obviously flattered that someone as successful as Rafa Benitez thinks so highly of me.

“And that he’s not been afraid to put his valuation of me in black and white for Villa and all the world to see.

“But have Villa offered me anything to try to persuade me my future is at Villa Park not Anfield? Not a thing.”

Martin O’Neill’s response has been to discipline his (soon to be former) captain by banning him from training. Sends a message, but it’s still pretty clear that Barry’s on his way.

I always took Barry for a different breed. Different to the money-hungry mercenary Premier League players who’ll happily screw their club over for a big money move (here’s looking at you, Cashley). I thought it was great that he’d stayed at Villa and proved to everyone that you can win a place in the England first XI without moving to one of the big four. He was a shining example of loyalty.

But turns out Barry’s just another Premier League player, ready to badmouth his manager and screw over his club if it means a big money move to a big four club.

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Category: English Premier League

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Aravind

Its time players showed a bit more respect to clubs and fans.
Chris

It doesn't matter WHY he's going. It's HOW he's going that has riled people.
Matt

One InterToto Cup? Champion League, FA, UEFA, etc. Silverware? Mid-table often? Top four often?

He hasn't said word one until now, he hasn't said word one about the valuation, but yet he's to be reviled? Gimme a break.
Chris

Worse than Cashley, worse than Ronaldo.

By rights, Gareth Barry should be a Villa legend. Instead he will leave Villa Park a hated man, and rightly so.

After O'Neill re-affirmed Barry's career, the player has attempted to engineer himself a move through:

1. Rafael Benitez tapping him up via the Scouse rags
2. Little innocent Steven Gerrard telling the press he wanted Barry
3. (Then) Villa player Patrik Berger getting involved after spending 90% of his Villa career getting paid for nothing
4. Ex-Villa player and all-round numpty David Platt getting involved
5. Ex-Villa player Mark Delaney getting involved after spending 90% of his Villa career getting paid for nothing

After all these, Villa's reaction has remained fair and consistent: we don't want to sell, Barry is under contract, so pay for him at our valuation or bugger off.

Now a desperate man, Barry has given up on the aforementioned subtleties and got his tits out in front of the NOTW.

He's devoid of class, entirely disrespectful and, if he doesn't get his move, will discover two things: how much Fat Rafael REALLY rates him (yawn), and what it's like to rot at a club that isn't desperate for money. And rot he would.

It is not the desire for Champions League football which is upsetting, or even that he wants to move to a rival.

The problem, for me, is that if this were an entirely footballing decision, Barry could have handed in a transfer request, respectfully explained his decision, and Villa would probably have been more willing to negotiate with Liverpool on price, and fans more (if only a little more) sympathetic.

As it is, I'm glad we're standing up for ourselves. We won't be bullied by Benitez or Barry, and I hope for football's sake that Spurs take the same approach now that their captain has been tapped up too.
dp

And the matter with wanting to have a crack at the big four after ten years with one club is...Granted, the bid shouldn't have been leaked on Liverpool's part, but O'Neill's made an absolute hash of it--he may just get his money, but just as easily, Rafa could just say "Whatever," keep Xabi Alonso, and O'Neill will be left with an angry, want-away captain that he'll have to sell for 60% of whatever fee he'll get now. Anyone who speaks to News of the World should be slapped with a rubber chicken, but comparing him to Cashley? That's going too far.