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O'Neill: Barry Can Go

Mon 30 Jun, 08:09 AM


Aston Villa manager Martin O'Neill has hit back in his row with wantaway midfielder Gareth Barry and told him he is free to join Liverpool - for the right price.

The Villans recently rejected a £15million bid from their Barclays Premier League rivals and are thought to be holding out for around £18million.

Barry yesterday blasted his Villa Park boss for failing to attempt to change his mind over a move to Anfield, but O'Neill has vehemently denied that claim.

"The chairman and I were surprised at Gareth's comments," he told The Sun. "Contrary to what he said, we desperately wanted to keep him - and he knows that.

"But if Liverpool meet our valuation, Gareth will get his expressed wish to leave. Until then, he remains an Aston Villa player."

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  1. I think that the KOP needs to send in a petition to wake Rafa's mindset on evaluation of players or he should employ a new backroom staff with the job position title as "players'transfer and evaluation of players" adviser.

    From ralphkid93, on Wed 2 Jul 5:09PM

  2. Barrys a great player better than Alonso, Barry will wish he had stayed at villa once the season is over, Rafa will keep him on the bench, he should stay at his proud club Villa

    From sam.andrews91@..., on Tue 1 Jul 4:20PM

  3. Stanley B. 5 times man. dont be ignorant.

    From David, on Tue 1 Jul 12:23PM

  4. Alonso is much better than Barry....if Rafa always like this, i'm not shocked if by end of next season campaign, he well put Torres, Babel,Reina for Sale......

    From Lobo, on Tue 1 Jul 10:23AM

  5. Obviously have to agree with the facts here,

    1. Liverpool play Champions League football. (3 times winners)
    2. Barry in his late 20's is worth about 10-15 million quids. (English players have an
    inflated price tag)
    3. He wants to play for Liverpool. (players desire)
    4. Liverpool want to sign him. (for a reasonable fee)
    5. Arsene Wenger already mentioned that its just not practical to hold on to a player
    if he wants to leave. (no point letting him warm the benches)

    So, just because Martin O'Neill was to build a great team he shouldn't forget that Rome wasn't built in a day.

    From Stanley B, on Tue 1 Jul 8:30AM

  6. Actually Rafa doesn't care if people tells him that Alonso is better than Barry.
    He is a Transfer market freak, constantly buying players whenever the opportunity arrives.
    He's a good tactician, but not good in evaluating players.
    Crouchie is good, a descent player, but he wants to sell him. Why? Because he wants to buy new players.

    From raziffhamsan, on Tue 1 Jul 8:18AM

  7. Cant somebody pls contact rafa n tell him not to be very keen on Barry as he's not even a better player than Alonso. Please we need someone here from the board or have some connection with the board to please made him realize that this is coming from majority of LFC fans all over the world, we should keep Alonso first, he's better than Barry on the pitch, he just dont have a good season recently for he just suffering some injury with his ankle ryte...then we can talk about coming and getting Barry out of Villa..

    From rina eryssha mohd yazah, on Tue 1 Jul 3:39AM

  8. come on bazza get to anfield

    From keitheedle, on Mon 30 Jun 8:52PM

  9. ALONSO £15 MILLION TO JUVENTUS A REGULAR SQUAD PLAYER FOR SPAIN WHO ARE A MUCH MORE TALENTED SQUAD THAN ENGLAND & £18 MILLION FOR BARRY A PLAYER WITH LESS THAN 10 CAPS CANT GET IN THE TEAM UNLESS LAMPARD IS UNAVAILABLE YEAH SOUNDS LIKE BULL TO ME ?

    From alan.darlow, on Mon 30 Jun 1:39PM

  10. I think he will be a good addition to the squad and might help Liverpool win something but 18m no way! No more tha 10m for a player of his quality.
    Come on Liverpool win the League this year!

    From neiljmdh, on Mon 30 Jun 1:22PM

  11. He ain't worth 18m.

    From Dan, on Mon 30 Jun 9:45AM

  12. Come on Rafa, what are you waiting for ?

    From Jeremy, on Mon 30 Jun 9:36AM

  13. come 2 liverpool....

    From sruban, on Mon 30 Jun 9:30AM

  14. good riddence let he go for free that way he gets no money and make him pay us to leave . VILLA FOREVER

    From villain 4 life, on Mon 30 Jun 8:43AM

  15. He's under contract so what's his problem?

    From euan, on Mon 30 Jun 8:16AM
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