by aCe' » Thu Jun 25, 2009 7:00 am
times online..
Gareth Barry has claimed that he rejected the chance to join Liverpool in favour of a £12million move to Manchester City amid fears of becoming a victim of Rafael Benítez's rotation policy at Anfield.
Barry implied yesterday that he was concerned he may have been asked to play out of position by Benítez, rather than in his preferred role in central midfield, and was worried about how that would affect his place in Fabio Capello's England team before the World Cup finals in South Africa next summer.
“The World Cup next year has always been a major part of my thinking,” said Barry, who flew to Almaty with the England squad yesterday morning before their qualifying match against Kazakhstan on Saturday.
“I feel at Manchester City I will get the chance to play regularly in my best position and play a big part in a successful side.” City are understood to have clinched the deal in Dubai last week, when a club delegation met Barry, who was on holiday with family and friends.