Premier League and UEFA Champions League contenders Liverpool have been snubbed by their summer pursuit Gareth Barry as the Aston Villa midfielder himself has admitted that he is sticking onto Villa Park for the moment.
Liverpool were involved in a much publicized and protracted summer transfer saga in regards to Barry. The Reds were quite open and vehement in their declaration to sign the much adored England international but Villa manager Martin O’Neill somehow fended off all interests from the Merseyside club.
Even Gareth Barty himself admitted that he wanted to move to Liverpool as he longed to feature in the UEFA Champions League. But it now appears that he has retracted his mind and is staying on at his ‘beloved’ Aston Villa.
Understandably Aston Villa manager Marton O’Neill is hugely grateful and delighted that his most crucial player’s future is now secure. The man from Northern Ireland told the club’s official website:
“This news will lift me, the players and hopefully, the player himself. It increases our determination to keep going and shows we are pushing in the right direction.
“This is what Gareth wants to do. It is very, very pleasing and I am delighted. We will sit down again in the summer, have a chat and see what progress we are making.
“He has given the football club fantastic service and wants to put the trauma of the summer behind him. His game is top-notch at the moment and he is playing very well.
“He wants to leave all the speculation behind him and get on with his game.”
So that’s it then. Liverpool would now have to end their pursuit of Gareth Barry and turn elsewhere for winter reinforcements. As for Aston Villa, well, the news that Barry is committed to the club would certainly boost them in their bid for a top four finish in the Premier Legaue at the end of the season.
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