Barry left Everton to play games
West Brom midfielder Gareth Barry has revealed that he joined the club this summer to get regular game-time.
Barry says that he expected less minutes on the pitch at Everton over West Brom, despite Ronald Koeman wanting him to stay.
Koeman told Barry that he was still in his plans and that he would get games, but Barry was not convinced and made the switch to West Brom as a result.
Speaking to The Express, Barry said this:
I’d been speaking to Ronald Koeman for three weeks before it eventually happened.
I thought, ‘Do you really want to end your career playing the odd game, being on the bench or just being in and around the place?’ A lot of players generally finish like that.
He wasn’t happy with me because he wanted me to stay around and felt I was going to get enough game time.
I didn’t want to slowly go down that road of fizzling out which I thought I might have done at Everton.
Barry is set to break a Premier League record this weekend for West Brom if he plays.
The English midfielder is set to make his 633rd appearance in the English top-flight, surpassing ex-Manchester United and Wales winger Ryan Giggs.
Barry has been a stalwart of many Premier League clubs during his career, including Aston Villa, Manchester City and Everton.
West Brom currently sit four points ahead of Everton in the Premier League table, with Barry a vital part of the Baggies midfield.