Eurosport - Fri, 05 Jun 14:52:00 2009
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp has revealed he was in the hunt for Manchester City new boy Gareth Barry.
The England midfielder joined Mark Hughes' side from Aston Villa for £12million earlier this week.
"This week, I tried to sign Gareth Barry," Redknapp told The Sun. "I felt he would be a good addition for Spurs and I knew we had to make a decent offer for a top England player."
He added: "Liverpool were also prepared to make a big offer.
"But we have both been blown out of the water by Manchester City.
"They offered a far bigger transfer fee and are giving the lad much bigger wages. We could not get near."
Barry became the first of what is expected to be a clutch of big-money City signings this summer, and Redknapp believes their financial clout could help them win the Premier League title before long.
He added: "It wouldn't surprise me if they won the title quite soon as they seem to have more money than everybody else."
Redknapp also hit out at the money in football, saying: "While I benefit from a good wage, I'm embarrassed about it, to be honest. A lot of people in football are embarrassed."
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why
A few weeks ago I sailed past Redkapp's house at Poole; worth a few millions! The truth is footballers are paid far too much now and clubs like Man City and Chelsea are bankrolled by greedy owners who want glory at all costs. In the long term, the club will suffer when the plug is pulled. As for Barry, I am suprised he gone to City,; I would have thought he would have gone to Liverpool or Spurs; clubs with a bit of history. I think Mark Hughes is a good manager and was an excellent player in his days but he's on borrowed time when and if he doesn't deliver the goods.
Don't miss the point of what 'Arry is saying
his point is that everyone is well off in PL footy, but the way that MCFC are splashing cash around is embarrassing football in front of the world.
Whilst everyone else is talking and thinking about cost cutting, citeh are spending like their money is on fire and they have to get rid of it. They are raising prices and showing off by buying other teams targets because they can. That is what is embarrassing. I feel embarrassed too on Citeh fans behalf cos they are gonna be SOOO upset when it all falls apart
Nah - serves you right, you'll always be second to Manure no matter how much you spend or who you buy
accept it and move on
Beh H you muppett,
this is not a story about your crappy West Spam - dirty chelsea offshoot rejects
wait a month or two till there is a story of interest about your lot before posting your unwanted and ludicrous opinion, do you honestly think any of the even mediocre players you mention would be seen dead at Upton Park - not likely
even your manager is ex chelsea. forever in the shadow of the scummy blues - how sad
Gecko - I agree
Doris Dazzler - boy, are you gonna feel silly when you win SFA and the A-Rabs bug out and leave you with a mismatch of overpriced 'stars' who can't play together. You lot will be the new Newcastle
Find your own team stories to comment on and don't be Jealous cos you know Harry is better than Hughes
don't worry spurs fan's,at least you have harry fish face ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
who care's what that ugly @#$% think's,his house alone is worth about £10 million
tuff luck fish face,mcfc are gonna be the new global force in a few year's,anything that winds people like you up is fine by me,it's hysterical ha ha ha ha
tuff luck fish face,mcfc are gonna be the new global force in a few year's,anything that winds people like you up is fine by me,it's hysterical ha ha ha ha
who care's what that ugly @#$% think's,his house alone is worth about £10 million
It is not about Harry having too much say at all, even when he was a Spammer I rated Harry because he was Honest and would not hide his feelings, a lot of what he said is spot on however you look at it. The wage bit I am not so sure about, after all if he is so embarresed about it he could have given the extra 50k to Barry and everyone would be happy!
Hope Man City wins something soon. Otherwise the oilers will stop pumping the oil (money) into it and you find yourself another great club going down.
Typical Rednapp he always has too much to say about other clubs and other clubs players. perhaps he gets paid extra for it, even more embarrassment hey Harry. coming from footballs greatest mercenery it makes a chap want to Puke.
Mind your own business Harry ( but you did turn Spurs round last season I have too admit so do what your good at and don't be embarressed)
GMH
I think we are silly not to make Radoslav Kovac and David Di Michele's contracts permanent. Yes, they aren't the worlds best players but they did their job well whilst playing for us so why not keep them.
Another thing. Lets get rid of our chairman and get a new one with lots of money to invest in bringing more big names to Upton Park, after all, we deserve it. Especially now that we have Zola at the helm, he has some great contacts so could persuade other players to play for him, after all, who wouldn't want to play for one of the best plaers the world has ever seen.
We need to buy players to boost our squad, becuase as we have seen from previous seasons, we have terrible luck in terms of injury. Here is a few names that I have thought of and why.
WILLIAM GALLAS Arenal will not offer him a new contract so he would be a great signing for us and we could get him on a free transfer as well, he is better than Lucas Neill, oh and this is a message for him from me, STAY!!
DAVID BENTLEY: He has had an appauling season at Spurs so why not sign him. We could get him cheap and Zola would work wonders on him.
There is two names which I hope, if West Ham officials look at this, could take into consideration.
Would love to hear from anyone who has anyother ideas on who we could buy. I can't think of one as yet but we do need a 2nd keeper as Robert Green is the only one we have at the moment. Maybe Scott Carson or Craig Gordon, but I don't know would love to hear from you all.
Well, Harry I applaud you for admitting to be embarrassed about your hyped up weekly wage. There's something you can do about it, initiate a campaign for footballers'(and managers) to have their salary capped. Take a pay cut and spread the word I will applaud you even more then.
embarrassed my arse, met him in a bookies in Bournemouth once, didnt seem too embarrassed then, cap them all!!!!
libfutures, Spurs ditto. How much have you yids spent? Think b4 posting a comment!
Gecko, tell us who you support so we can nit-pick at your team! Are those grapes sour in your mouth?? Blue Moon rising!!
So you don't support Villa, Man City or Chelsea gecko_twister. So who do you support? It wouldn't be that other club in Manchester would it? ALL of the successful clubs have got to be successful by spending huge amounts of money to buy the best players available. They do not have a divine right to prevent another club from challenging their cosy little group at the top of the league by doing the same as they have done. I do support Man City, and I do hope that we will challenge for honours in the not too distant future. Any club with our financial clout would be doing exactly what we are doing, trying to buy success. It is jealous cr.ap when people like you keep bleating about City and their cash. How can it be sad for the game when there is a chance that the boring monotony of the same four clubs sharing the honours every year is about to be challenged. Maybe Portsmouth will be able to do the same now. I hope so.
Not a surprise barry did what he did, just wonder how much time before he'll win anything ? Does that mean he wasn't willing to take a lower wage at liverpool who are in the CL and title contenders ??
really makes me laugh how many people say things like.. such and such is only at city for the money. They're all at premiership clubs for the money. They all earn stupid money no matter where they are so why is it all citys fault now we have money. I'd play for my local pub team if they were willing to give me £60K a week!!!
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