Aston Villa have disciplined want-away skipper Gareth Barry after he criticised manager Martin O'Neill in a Sunday newspaper interview.O'Neill has also insisted Villa have not received a new bid from Liverpool for the England midfielder, who will not be present when Villa report back for pre-season training at Bodymoor Heath on Thursday.
Liverpool were linked with a new £15million offer for 27-year-old Barry but O'Neill said: "There is no truth in this morning's reports and the situation remains the same.
"Gareth will not be returning to training tomorrow and he has been disciplined after giving an unauthorised interview to the News of the World."
A club statement confirmed: "Gareth Barry will not be returning for pre-season training tomorrow."
Barry upset O'Neill by intimitating the Villa boss was more interested in being a TV pundit for the Euro 2008 finals than speaking to him over his future.
He said: "It's seven weeks now since the season finished but while the gaffer found time to be a pundit for the BBC at Euro 2008, he hasn't found time to speak to me.
"The last time we spoke was just after England's game in Trinidad at the start of June - and that's it.
"It just made me think that the gaffer and the club were just saying one thing in public but were not bothered about me at all in private. What other conclusion can you reach?"
Liverpool has so far made bids of around £10million, £12million and £13million for Barry who has been at Villa for 10 seasons but wants to play Champions League football with the Reds.
But O'Neill, despite being resigned to losing Barry, is adamant he will not accept less than £18million.
The former Celtic boss is aware that Manchester United paid £18million for both Michael Carrick and Owen Hargreaves, and Barry is ahead of both of them in Fabio Capello's England plans.
He is also in no mood to drop his asking price or compromise after being upset by Rafael Benitez's behaviour during the early stages of negotiations in making the possible deal public.
It seems inevitable Barry will eventually get his wish and move to Anfield.
But O'Neill's decision not to involve him in training is a signal of him wanting to press ahead with Villa's preparations for the Intertoto Cup without all the media interest that would surround them if Barry was participating.
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Comment 1 - 4 of 4
come to LFC Barry, help us win the title, come to the best fans in the world who will show you respect even if you decide to leave one day. villa are so @#$%, Barry is the only decent player they have had for the past 10 years and they cant handle that he actually wants to go to a decent club.
Villa's greed and lack of depth have created this situation. They have little talent and have been scraping together a team for years (albeit relatively successful). The lack of investment means there are not a lot of options as a selling club, and O'Neal's stratagy has been to inflate the transfer fee for one of the few assets they currently have, because 'Liverpool' are interested. O'Neal has lambasted Benitez and now Barry, and it is rather pathetic watching Villa discipline such a loyal servant in this way.
Should Liverpool be contemplating signing Barry at the expence of Alonso? I think this transaction carries risks, and while I rate Barry, I am unclear as to how his capture will significantly help Liverpool. Liverpool have a good squad with strength in depth, and should allow this team to move forward as a group, with fewer additions, and who scream pure class!
As for Barry, he has been open and honest, and his motivations understandable. Far better to have such clarity and openess, and made at an appropriate juncture, i.e. end of season transfer window, than the melodrama that is Christian 'Im the best player in the world...ever!' Ronaldo
Sorry but how does ur club earn you a spot ina national side, surely that should be down to the players own doing, maybe his talent...
Its only the villa fans that seem to be disturbed by the whole issue. Its simple he wants to plsy for a clun that can actually achieve things!
That should be his decision, all this talk about wages and @#$%, @#$% that.
LFC4LIFE
"Gareth will not be returning to training tomorrow and he has been disciplined after giving an unauthorised interview to the News of the World."
- That's what he's being criticised for, his attitude - not wanting a move.... there are ways of doing things, and he's not exactly being respectful to a club who have paid his wages for 10 years and got him playing international football and being spoken about as a future England captain.
Liverpool did not exactly pay him a compliment by attempting to offload some of their rejects in part exchange for his services either. He should remember that when considering his decision.
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