In addition to the daily stories linking Cristiano Ronaldo with a move from Manchester United to Real Madrid, another transfer saga dominated the back pages of the newspapers throughout the summer. Like the above, a deal was never brokered between the two clubs, with the player in question left to contemplate that all things surely happen for a reason.
Who knows whether Gareth Barry would have made a difference in a Liverpool shirt this season, perhaps the Reds would be top if the current Villans captain had signed. However, Sky Sports report that the England international is happy as Larry (or should that be Barry?) to be plying his trade for the Midlands club, who could actually usurp Liverpool in the Premier League by the end of the season.
“The Liverpool thing seems a few years ago now,” Barry said in the Daily Mirror.
“Me and the manager are both professional people who want the best for Villa and my relationship with the manager is very good.
“It can go through your head what others have done to get away from a club, but that was just not the reputation I would have wanted.”
Martin O’Neill played a blinder to ensure that Barry remained an Aston Villa player, will he not only help the Villans to a place in next year’s Champions League but also hoist them to a higher finishing position than Liverpool? There’s only three points seperating the two teams at the moment, surely the gap would be considerably bigger if the midfielder had made the Anfield switch.