Barry: Visit by Roberto convinced me ‘This is the move for me’
Gareth Barry says that a personal visit from Everton manager Roberto Martinez when he was left out of the Manchester City pre-season squad convinced him that it was the right move.
Barry says that the Spaniard instantly gave him the belief that he had confidence in him and that he would be a key part in what Everton are hoping to achieve.
“When I didn’t travel to Helsinki for a pre-season game (against Arsenal in August) Roberto Martinez found out I wasn’t in the squad, got permission to speak to me and came round to my house,” Barry said in a wide ranging interview.
“I thought ‘he’s making a big effort here’.
“The moment I spoke to the manager, I thought ‘I like this bloke, he has a good vision’.
“Within 10 minutes he’d given me my confidence back, telling me he believed in me, that I could be a focal part of Everton and what we could do at Everton.
“He left my house and I was thinking ‘this is the move for me.’ “
Barry has again said that the target for this season is to finish in the Champions League places and he firmly believes that the toffee’s can do it.
“The top target is getting into the Champions League.
“If we break into that top four with the amount of good teams around, we’ve had a fantastic year. We can do it.’’
Barry confirmed that he will “Hopefully” be signing a permanent contract next season and really emphasised how he loves the history and fan base that the clubs have.
“Everton fans don’t just come to watch the football,” he said.
“They are there for Everton, the club.
“They really believe in the history of the club. It’s drilled through their families, through the years, about Everton.
“When I see them they say: ‘You’d better be signing next season!’ Every time! My answer is the same every time: ‘Hopefully! Hopefully!’ That’s a genuine answer.
“From day one, the manager said: ‘I’m not going to put any pressure on you throughout the season.
“We’ll have the conversation in the summer, see how the club feel about you, see how you feel about the club and take it from there.’
“I’m more than halfway through the season now and it couldn’t have gone any better. It’s going to be a nice conversation to be having come the end of the season.’’
Barry has impressed at the heart of the Everton midfield this season and hopes to win a place in the England World Cup Squad, but he firmly believes that Ross Barkley should be in the plane and had every confidence that he would be a big hit in Brazil.
“He’s a big wild card England should use,” Barry added.
“In terms of natural ability and things he can do with the ball, Ross gives something different to what we’ve got in this country.
“People spoke about him playing deeper but from what I’ve seen No 10 has to be his position.
“He can keep improving. He’s so young.
“He’s perfect going into something as big as a World Cup as he won’t have any fears.
“He’ll just go out and do what he thinks is best.’’
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