Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez has launched a scathing attack on Manchester City midfielder Gareth Barry after the England international chose the Eastlands club over the Reds this summer.
Barry was the subject of the biggest transfer saga of 2008 and looked likely to move to Anfield this summer, but could not resist the big money lure Mark Hughes’ Man City could offer him.
Some reports say Barry is earning in excess of £100,000 a week.
Benitez revealed that he would have liked to have signed the former Aston Villa captain this summer, but would not compete with Man City‘s money.
“Maybe it’s just me but in this market now, money is not the main thing,” Benitez said. “Everyone at this level earns big money. You have to enjoy [it], make decisions, do your best in the right way.
“If it’s just for money sometimes you will make mistakes, like Gareth Barry. I won’t say too much but it [his move to City] was clearly for money ‘“ 100 per cent. It’s not a bad thing to miss out on him. The most important thing is to know the passion of the player.
“We did go back again for Barry, but as I said it is all about money, money, money. It is as simple as that. It was difficult, some clubs are offering big money. But he [Johnson] wanted to come here, that was the difference. City have signed a lot of good players, but that is no guarantee they will win anything. It will be interesting to see what happens next season.”
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