Benitez blasts back at O'Neill

Liverpool boss stokes Barry row

Last updated: 12th May 2008

Benitez Rafa Birmingham v Liverpool

Benitez: O'Neill disagreement

If your captain wants to leave, it is a problem, but that's football.

Rafa Benitez
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Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez has suggested Martin O'Neill needs to accept the prospect of Gareth Barry leaving Aston Villa.

Benitez has made no secret of his desire to land the £10million-rated Villa captain, after news of the approach to sign Barry became public two weeks ago.

O'Neill has recently voiced his disappointment at the manner of Benitez's approach for Barry and the Villa boss said on Monday that he and chairman Randy Lerner were set to join forces in an attempt to persuade the England midfielder to stay.

However, Benitez has now hinted that O'Neill must come to terms with the fact that Barry, who is believed to be keen to play UEFA Champions League football, is set to leave Villa.

"If your captain wants to leave, it is a problem, but that's football," Benitez told the Liverpool Echo.

Problem

"I have been very clear. The player had said before that he wanted to play Champions League football. We knew that and so tried to sign a good player. It is that simple.

"I think the right approach when you want to sign a player is to talk to the manager.

"I was talking to Martin O'Neill. I said we would like to sign Gareth Barry and asked what the situation was.

"He just said he needed to talk to the owner and I said okay. He will not have any problems with his supporters because he never said to me he wanted to sell Barry.

"We were also talking about (Liverpool goalkeeper) Scott Carson because they have the option to sign him.

Angry

"We were just talking about football so why he was so angry, I do not know."

Benitez has also hit back at the criticism from O'Neill and the Spaniard is adamant that it is not his fault that news of the proposed transfer became public.

"We made an offer but I think we were straight," Benitez added. "When you make an official offer, you do so by fax. Some people see the fax and you cannot control everything.

"The Birmingham press found out about the offer and it was not our fault. They were very clever and used that information.

"I was talking with Martin O'Neill 20 days before that and nobody knew. We were doing things properly. We are waiting now to see what happens next."