Barry sad that his Villa career is ending in tears
The Guardian, Tuesday July 8, 2008
Gareth Barry has told his team-mates he is upset that his Aston Villa career has ended amid such acrimony, as the England midfielder's protracted move to Liverpool edges closer to completion at the same time as Martin O'Neill prepares to welcome Steve Sidwell as a replacement.
Both transfers are expected to go through during the next few days, with Sidwell due to have talks with Luiz Felipe Scolari at Chelsea today and Liverpool likely to sign Barry before the weekend.
Barry has not spoken publicly since he was fined two weeks' wages and banned from pre-season training after he criticised O'Neill in an interview, but Martin Laursen revealed that the Villa captain has told him that he is "not happy with the way it has ended". The Danish defender also admitted he felt "sad" at the manner of Barry's departure and, mindful that Liverpool visit Villa Park in the Premier League in August, urged the club's supporters to remember the midfielder's contribution over the past decade.
"It is sad," said Laursen, referring to the bitter falling out. "A player that has done so much for this club, it is sad it has ended in the way it has done. I don't know what Gareth wants. I can only say that I am sad that the fans are angry with him now because they have to remember how much he has done for the club and that he has been a really good player. With his quality and the goals he has scored, I don't think the fans should forget that. I hope they will keep that in mind."
"We are talking about a guy who has been here for 10 years, played over 300 games for the club - the youngest player in the Premier League to play 300 games," added Laursen, who also said that he would "welcome the chance" to be the new club captain while speaking at Villa's new kit launch yesterday.
Liverpool have hitherto refused to meet Villa's £18m valuation of Barry but Peter Crouch's imminent move to Portsmouth is expected to free up the funds that will push a deal through. Steve Finnan may be used as a makeweight although it is understood that Liverpool and not Villa have suggested the right-back be part of the transfer. Villa have also been unhappy with how Liverpool planned to structure the payments for the Barry deal, an issue that should be resolved in further talks this week.
Villa will make a formal approach to Chelsea for Sidwell once the player has completed his discussions with Scolari. The former Reading midfielder was a peripheral figure at Stamford Bridge last season and it is expected that the new Chelsea manager will inform him he is surplus to requirements for the new campaign. Sidwell's arrival at Villa Park is much-needed, although O'Neill has urged supporters to be "patient" as he continues to seek to strengthen.
"We are in the market - strongly - for players," said O'Neill. "We are lighter than last year. But I'm convinced we will start the season more strongly, in terms of a squad. Gareth's situation has been an issue, unquestionably, but we have not taken our eye off the ball. Bids have been going in. Negotiations are taking place on various fronts. It's just that we do not have anything official to announce just yet. However, I anticipate there will be significant additions
