At long last, the Gareth Barry debate is over. No longer will we hear arguments between Reds who cannot agree whether he would add anything to the side or not. And there will be no further doubts about whether his arrival would force Xabi Alonso out.

Yet the manner in which all these arguments have been settled is undoubtedly surprising. For Barry has left Aston Villa to join not Liverpool or Arsenal, the two clubs that could have given him the Champions League football that he had claimed he was eager for, but rather Manchester City who haven't even qualified for the Europa League.

Inevitably, Barry has claimed that he believes that at Manchester City he has joined a club that is building to challenge, one with a serious project to build a side good enough to win top honours.

That, however, is some way off. Even if they pull off all the transfers that they're claiming, City will still be a top five side at best by next season. Meaning that Barry, at 29, will have wasted a further season.

If this risks sounding like sour grapes, then simply think of Lucas Neill. Two seasons ago he too opted to reject Liverpool in favour of a cash rich club with big ambitions. He too said that he had opted for that move not for the money but because of footballing ambitions.

Well, three seasons later he has just rejected West Ham's offer for a new contract and is looking for a new club. Only that, at 31, he is now past his peak and has certainly lost any opportunity that he had of playing for a big club.

In other words, he made his choice and is now reaping the rewards.

The same applies to Barry. Whether he admits it or not, the truth is that he has gone to Manchester City for the money. He was fully entitled to do that, of course, and good luck to him.

Yet, whilst his bank balance will be considerably better off, it is unlikely that his medal collection will be likewise.