Aston Villa: Family divided as Gareth Barry faces boyhood heroes Tottenham
Mar 14 2009 by Bill Howell, Birmingham Mail
HARRY Redknapp came within an ace of taking Gareth Barry to Portsmouth, admitting earlier this season that “virtually a done deal for about £5million” was agreed shortly before Martin O’Neill replaced David O’Leary and scuppered his hopes of landing the England international.
It remains to be seen whether Redknapp will endeavour to prise Barry away from Villa Park this summer, taking advantage of the one year remaining on his contract.
One thing is for sure: in a battle of the £15million midfielders, Barry has enjoyed far more success this season than David Bentley, who snubbed a move to Villa Park, preferring White Hart Lane.
Certainly, Barry is well-known to Tottenham fans, not least for his two goals against them the season before last, which included a sensational top-corner screamer at Villa Park in October 2006.
Ironic then that Barry was a boyhood Tottenham supporter at home in Sussex, with two of his three brothers still avid followers of the club.
“Two of my three brothers are die-hard Tottenham fans,” admits Barry who will attempt to haul Villa towards their first win in seven games tomorrow after a depressing blip in form which has seen them take one point from nine available and exit two cup competitions.
Barry had only just turned ten when Paul Gascoigne curled home a 25-yard free-kick for Spurs past England goalkeeper David Seaman in the 1991 FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal at Wembley.
