Gareth Barry feared Everton move would not happen - Everton, Premier League Subscribe to PA: http://bit.ly/XmEY05 News, Sport and Entertainment videos: http://www.youtube.com/pressassociation Follow PA on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/pressassoc The Press Association: http://www.pressassociation.com Gareth Barry admits he had been starting to "fear the worst" before his season-long loan switch from Manchester City to Everton was completed late on transfer deadline day. It was not until after the summer window had closed at 11pm on Monday that the Toffees confirmed the deal for the 32-year-old midfielder. And asked at a press conference on Tuesday if he had been worried the move would not go through, Barry said: "Yes. "I think when you get into that last hour and there are still a few snags between the two clubs, with not everything sorted yet, you do fear the worst and start thinking you might be going into training with Manchester City. Barry's contract with City, who he joined from Aston Villa in 2009, comes to an end next summer and he had been told by the Etihad Stadium outfit that he could not be guaranteed first-team football in the 2013-14 campaign. He said: "It was important for me to make that decision - whether I was happy to see out my last year at Manchester City and not really feature at all. "That was never something I was going to be comfortable with I think. "I have been lucky enough to play regularly throughout my career. "So I want to try to establish myself in the first team here, get a regular spot in the team and try to get a consistent run of games and good form together. "Virtually straight away at the end of the season and at the start of pre-season it was made clear that I wasn't going to be guaranteed regular first-team football (at City). "Being 32 in a big squad with a lot of players, I could have dealt with that. "But as pre-season went on and then the first games came, it was pretty clear that I wasn't going to feature in squads and that I was going to have to wait for a couple of injuries. "So that's when I started thinking it could be time to start looking elsewhere for regular football." Barry, part of City's 2011 FA Cup-winning and 2011-12 Barclays Premier League-winning teams, was disappointed to leave the club, having been confident he could have impressed their new manager Manuel Pellegrini, who succeeded Roberto Mancini this summer. But he felt he simply was not going to get the chance to do so and is happy now to be with Everton. Barry, not involved at all in City's opening three games this season, said: "Obviously if anyone is told they are not wanted or you are not going to feature you are going to be disappointed. "I was no different because the bottom line is that I would have backed myself to impress the manager and taken the chance if that had come this season. "But once it is made clear that those opportunities are not going to arise, then you know as a footballer of experience that you have to try to move on. "So I got my head around that and I'm grateful now to be at Everton." Barry has spoken of his admiration for the style in which Everton boss Roberto Martinez's teams play, as well as the history of the Toffees and the atmosphere generated by their fans at Goodison Park. And he has also stressed that for now, his focus is very much on the Merseyside club, with the prospect of playing his way back into the England squad ahead of next summer's World Cup being viewed at this point merely as a "bonus". "I think firstly, my head has been all about me wanting to play regular football in the Premier League," said Barry, who has 53 international caps and last played for England in May 2012. "It is not the main reason why I've joined Everton - to try to help my England ambitions. "That will come if I'm playing consistently well for Everton, and at the moment, it would be a bonus. Getting good form for Everton is my main target." Barry says him joining Everton permanently after the loan cannot be ruled out, and he believes a push for the top four this season is a realistic aim for the club, who finished sixth last term. Regarding the prospect of Barry extending his stay with the Toffees beyond one season, Martinez told evertontv: "What we want is to find a way where Gareth can come and be a part of Everton and enjoy his football, and we can all enjoy his experience and his quality. "After that, we will see if there is an opportunity to see him for many, many years to come - because I do believe Gareth has got a long-term future at the club."

• published: 03 Sep 2013
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