Gaz Baz

[Kenneth]

One thing i would praise City for is the speed in which they wrapped up the signing of Barry. You just don't get transfers go through that quickly and smoothly anymore, i bet Rafa would love us to conduct our business like that.

I think having more money than sense helps things move quickly tbh. "How much?... there you go".

[The_weatherman]

Wonder if Rafa has that Martinez guy on his list as well, he is young and probably of similiar quality to Barry and with lesser wage demands.

[Guest]

Lets close this chapter now and move on. Personally I am quite excited by the prospect of a dynamic young midfielder like Martinez signing.

Not going to happen. The idea was to sell Alonso, raise much needed cash, get Barry on a bargain £8m deal then use the Alonso money to go for attackers/wingers of adequate quality.

Martinez was never in the equation IMO.

[dww]

Not going to happen. The idea was to sell Alonso, raise much needed cash, get Barry on a bargain £8m deal then use the Alonso money to go for attackers/wingers of adequate quality.

Martinez was never in the equation IMO.

I'm not so sure. I think we do, ideally, need another CM offering some of the qualities that Barry possessed and some claim for Martinez. Also if he could in any way cover for Gerrard (as you might have guessed I've not seen him play) then that makes him even more of a possibility in my opinion.

[Reece]

England midfielder Gareth Barry has explained his £12m move from Aston Villa to Manchester City, saying he had a "massive fear of going stale".

In an open letter to Villa's fans published in the Birmingham Mail on Wednesday, Barry said: "I want the chance to explain my decision.

"I have a massive fear of going stale and falling into a comfort zone.

"After changing my mind lots of times I came to the decision that the time was right for me and the club to part."

The future of the 28-year-old has been a constant source of speculation over the past 12 months, with Liverpool pursuing the signature of the former Brighton trainee throughout the summer of 2008.

Barry stated his desire to join the Reds, but with Rafa Benitez unable to match Villa's valuation, then set at £18m, the England international announced that he would stay at Villa Park in August.

FOOTBALL BLOG
Only time will tell whether Gareth Barry's insistence that he was afraid of going stale at Villa Park and was tempted by City's ambitious future plans stand up to close inspection

BBC Sport's Phil McNulty

"I have grown bored of all the speculation surrounding me over the last 12 months and I am sure all the fans have as well," said Barry.

"I am glad I never left last summer because I would have left under a cloud. This year I feel things are different."

In May, Villa manager Martin O'Neill said that he would consider selling Barry, who had one year left on his contract at Villa Park, to a club who had qualified for the Champions League.

However, City finished six places and 22 points behind the top four clubs in the Premier League this season, all of whom qualify for Europe's elite club competition.

"Once I had spoken to Mark Hughes there was nowhere else I wanted to go," said Barry.

"They were the club prepared to meet the valuation, which for a 28-year-old with a year left on his contract, I think shows how much they wanted me.

606: DEBATE
So Gareth Barry left because he feared he would go stale. Has he been reading the excuses used by Southgate, Ehiogu and Boateng?

andreasvilla69

"I am convinced with the plans the club has and the backing the manager will receive from the owners, that we will be a major force."

Barry moved to Villa from Brighton as a 16-year-old in 1997 and played over 400 games for the Birmingham club, as well as winning 29 caps for England.

"I feel the club is in the best position it has been in during my time here," added Barry.

"We have very good young players, a fantastic chairman and one of the best managers in the game.

"I want to thank them [the Villa fans] for the incredible support I have received over the last 12 years.

"For the rest of my life Aston Villa will be the first result I look for. Thanks for everything."

That bit would suggest that we didn't match the £12m bid.

[MrsB]

Here's his letter in full:

To the Villa fans

AFTER all the speculation over the last 12 months, I want the chance to explain my decision to the Aston Villa fans.

Firstly, I want to thank them for the incredible support I have received over the last 12 years. This football club has been a huge part of my life. I joined a 16-year-old boy and 12 years later I am moving on as a 28-year-old man with a wife and two children.

A lot of things have changed in that time, players, management and a chairman, but every season bar none, whether we have been bottom half, mid-table or challenging for Europe, the support myself and the team have received has been fantastic.

My one huge regret is that during my time at this club we have not brought the fans the success they deserve and I obviously have to take my share of responsibility that we have not been good enough to win trophies.

I feel the club is in the best position it has been in during my time here, I think we have a group of very good young players, we have a fantastic chairman who is here for the good of the club and one of the best managers in the game.

Obviously people will ask why I am leaving if I feel like that.

I have honestly been very undecided what to do, the manager and the whole club have bent over backwards to try and persuade me to stay and made me a fantastic offer, which I am extremely grateful for.

But after changing my mind lots of times I came to the decision that the time was right for me and for the club to part company.

I need a new challenge, I have a massive fear of going stale and falling into a comfort zone.

I believe the deal is a good one for the club, I am sure the manager will use the money well to strengthen the team and the club will go from strength to strength.

I am also excited now about my new challenge, a lot of people will question my decision to join Manchester City. They were the club prepared to meet the valuation, which for a 28-year-old, with a year left on his contract, I think shows how much they wanted me.

Once I had spoken to Mark Hughes there was nowhere else I wanted to go. I was also desperate to avoid any long drawn-out saga.

I feel I am joining a club that will seriously challenge to win major honours, people might doubt that, but I am convinced with the plans the club has short term and long term, and the backing the manager will receive from the owners, that we will be a major force.

Also the World Cup has always been a major part of my thinking and I feel at Man City I will get the chance to play regularly in my best position and play a big part in a successful side. Time will tell if I am right or not, but those are my reasons.

I have grown bored of all the speculation surrounding me over the last 12 months and I am sure all the fans have as well.

I am glad I never left last summer because I would have left under a huge cloud.This year I feel things are different. I havent used an agent, I have discussed things with my best friend but ultimately made my own choices and I think the situation has been handled properly by everybody involved and, once again, I have to thank the manager and the club for that.

I genuinely wish the club all the best for the future and want to thank everyone who has helped and supported me during my time here.

For the rest of my life Aston Villa will be the first result I look for. Thanks for everything.

Gareth

Birmingham Mail

[Tee]

Thats fair enough. Wish him all the worst.

[BigChief]

There's no way on earth he wanted to go to Man City. He would have got that salary at Villa. What he really wanted to write was:

"Fans, I've been f*cked over by Lerner and O Neill who refused to reduce the £12 million to £8 million so I could go to Liverpool. This despite having served the club for 10 years and not throwing a hissy fit last summer! There's no way I'll play for those disloyal c*nts again, I'd rather play for a bottom half of the league team now! Bye."

Lots of dark clouds about his decision. I feel genuinely sorry for him, I really do. I hope he succeeds in winning a cup but alas I don't see him ever playing in the CL. Ever.

[DannyMan2006]

If I was Gareth Barry I would have possibly made the same decision.

It appears Rafa wanted him the play LW/LB. He would have blown his chance of being First XI for England had he done that. He has also joined a forward thinking club.

If England win the world cup with him as a starter he made the right choice. If they crash out in the group stages and Man City have no success, whilst LFC win trophies he made the wrong choice.

[BigChief]

If I was Gareth Barry I would have possibly made the same decision.

It appears Rafa wanted him the play LW/LB. He would have blown his chance of being First XI for England had he done that. He has also joined a forward thinking club.

If England win the world cup with him as a starter he made the right choice. If they crash out in the group stages and Man City have no success, whilst LFC win trophies he made the wrong choice.

LOLOLOL. I guarantee Man City will win the league well before England ever win the world cup again!

[red g]

Thats fair enough. Wish him all the worst.

[Vermilion]

If I was Gareth Barry I would have possibly made the same decision.

It appears Rafa wanted him the play LW/LB. He would have blown his chance of being First XI for England had he done that. He has also joined a forward thinking club.

If England win the world cup with him as a starter he made the right choice. If they crash out in the group stages and Man City have no success, whilst LFC win trophies he made the wrong choice.

Agreed, it's going to be an exciting time for Citeh over the next decade.

[Assassin]

"I have grown bored of all the speculation surrounding me over the last 12 months"

How the **** can you get bored with being constantly linked to the worlds great football club. What a complete prick!

........and **** Operation, I am happier than he will be that Barry is not joining us

[Leyton388]

Every year is the same. The big guns get linked to all these players and we keep quite. I remember when we were being linked with Daren bent and forlan and everyone was going nuts then Bang we signed Torres! Keep the faith rafa signed a new contract for a very very good reason and the same goes for our big stars.

[pondus]

Barry can **** off. After a last heavy pay check, that's all.

Was actually looking forward to seeing him play for us, as long as it didn't mean we had to sell Alonso.

Once I had spoken to Mark Hughes there was nowhere else I wanted to go. FFS