Midfielder Reveals Reasons Behind Liverpool Snub

Ahead of tonights Carling Cup second leg with Liverpool at Anfield, Gareth Barry has revealed the reasons behind his decision to join Manchester City ahead of the Reds back in 2009.

City go in to the game trailing 1-0 after a Steven Gerrard penalty won it for Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium last week, but Barry could have been turning out for the opposition tonight had things worked out differently.

Speaking to the Telegraph, Barry recalls the situation back in 2008 when the-then Liverpool manager Rafael Benitez had identified him as a replacement for Xabi Alonso, who was on the verge of leaving the club.

However, the deal collapsed and Barry stayed at Aston Villa while Alonso remained at Anfield, and the England midfielder feels the Liverpool fans reaction to this could have left a bitter taste in his mouth.

“I remember when the transfer saga was going on, I was watching a Liverpool friendly [against Lazio at Anfield] and the home fans were singing, ‘You can stick your Gareth Barry up your —-’. I was at home, but I could just hear it vaguely. That might have got into my head a little bit.”

(source: Telegraph)

Barry eventually left Villa in 2009 to join Manchester City and the 30-year-old claims Liverpool were still interested in signing him that summer, but he choose City due to their ambition and he feels his decision has been vindicated after an FA Cup win last season as well as playing in the Champions League this campaign. He continued:

“Liverpool were still interested when I decided to join City [in 2009]. I thought about it really hard, but the things the club were talking about, I felt City were on the up, whereas Liverpool were maybe finding it a bit tougher than City.”

“It wasn’t an easy decision,” Barry said. “I was signing [for City] on promises being made really and, in football, promises get made all the time.

“They can backfire and people can end up saying they made the wrong decision. But sitting here now, I think it has been a very good decision.

“Four years on, people say to me that I’ve made the right decision joining City. Obviously Liverpool is a fantastic club with a great following but I won the FA Cup last year and I’ve played in the Champions League this season.”

(source: Telegraph)