Gareth Barry angers fans as he leaves Aston Villa for Manchester City
Jun 3 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Post
Aston Villa captain Gareth Barry has said he is delighted with his £12 million move to Manchester City.
Barry, 28, ended his 12-year stay with Villa by signing a five-year contract at Eastlands after turning down the opportunity of signing a new deal at Villa Park.
Barry released just a small statement to the official City website: “I’m delighted to be joining City,” he said.
“It didn’t take much persuasion from Mark Hughes, they are heading in the direction I want to go. There is great potential here, and I’m sure there will be a few more additions to the squad this summer.”
The move has angered some sections of the Villa support, largely because of Barry’s insistence 12 months ago that he wanted Champions League football.
It will not be lost on supporters that while Villa reached only the Europa League, City will be penned in on domestic duty entirely next season.
The transfer does at least show Martin O’Neill as a man of his word having given Barry the green light to move should he decide against signing the lucrative new contract at Villa recently put under his nose.
The harsh reality for O’Neill is that he will now have to live without arguably his two most prized assets in Barry and the retired Martin Laursen.
But while the Northern Irishman sets about finding replacements, his City counterpart could not be happier.
“Gareth is widely acknowledged as one of the top midfielders in the Premier League, and that is a recommendation in itself,” said Mark Hughes.
“When players of his quality become available then you have to be in the market for them, so we are absolutely delighted that we have been able to conclude this deal.
“The experience required to compete with the best in the Premier League is vital,
