Barry agrees to stay a Villan
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Martin O’Neill has moved to pre-empt any January speculation about the future of Gareth Barry by declaring that, following talks with the player, his former captain has agreed to remain with Aston Villa until the end of the season.
Barry was the subject of one of the summer’s more tortuous transfer sagas as his on-off move to Liverpool was finally ended when The Reds refused to match Villa’s reported £18 million asking price for the England international.
The player’s decision to go public on his desire to move to Anfield saw him fined and stripped of the captaincy by O’Neill but Barry has retained his central role in the club’s plans and has started all 14 of Villa’s Premier League games so far this season.
His long-term future remains in doubt given that he can, in theory, buy out his contract at the end of the season, but Barry has told O’Neill he will certainly not leave Villa Park before that date, according to a statement from the club on their official website.
O’Neill also believes that Barry’s all-action displays this season have demonstrated his commitment to the Villa cause.
“Gareth is committed to Villa and this has been illustrated in his performances so far this season,” O’Neill told the club’s official website.
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i still think you should have ended up at liverpool.
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still thinks he plays better on the left midfield...