Gareth Barry has spoken of Manchester City's potential to be a "major force" as the main reason behind his shock move to Eastlands in a letter to Aston Villa fans.
The midfielder spent 12 years at Villa Park before completing a whirlwind £12million switch on Tuesday.
In a letter to fans published in the Birmingham Mail, Barry said: "Once I had spoken to (City manager) Mark Hughes there was nowhere else I wanted to go. I was also desperate to avoid any long, drawn-out saga."
Barry had voiced his desire to sign for Liverpool last summer and play Champions League football and Reds boss Rafael Benitez was expected to launch another bid after failing to match Villa's £18million valuation last year.
The England player's move to the Premier League's richest club is sure to go down badly with Villa fans, who initially booed him at the start of last season but came to respect his commitment to the cause.
"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," Barry added.
"I have honestly been very undecided what to do, the (Villa) manager (Martin O'Neill) 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."
Meanwhile, Brazilian midfielder Ze Roberto claims City are "top of the list" of possible destinations after he rejected Bayern Munich's offer of a contract extension.
The 34-year-old had been hoping to receive a longer commitment from the Bundesliga club than the 12 months on the table.
"(My future) will be decided in the next few days," he told German newspaper tz. "Manchester City's interest is right at the top of the list. They want to get into Europe and I am wanted to help them."
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Man C can buy any players with the money they have, but they cannot buy HONOURS!!!
Man C??? Whos that??? Oh, wait, its a club in reverse gear! haha... richest club, spent the most on transfers... and still ended up 10th in the league??? haha, what losers.... even FULHAM are better then you and qualified for Europe with a fraction of your budget!!!
gordon is a moron gordon is a moron. just because he JILTED liverpool its just simply sour grapes.do you honestly think that with the money man city have that we wont be a force. you want to wake up and smell the coffee. im pixxed off at people slagging city off for why ?. i will tell you why because nobody was bothered about city before and now that we are the richest club on the planet it simply boils down to jealousy.city have come a long way in 1 season and when sparky has had his spending spree lets see where we are at the end of next season.ctid
Barry is wrong in thinking City can become a major force, and he was wrong to sign there instead of Liverpool. No good decision for a good player.
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