England midfielder Gareth Barry said a fear of losing his appetite for the game prompted his 12 million pounds move from Aston Villa to Manchester City.
"I want the chance to explain my decision. I have a massive fear of going stale and falling into a comfort zone," he wrote in an open letter to Villa's fans published in the Birmingham Mail on Wednesday. "After changing my mind lots of times I came to the decision that the time was right for me and the club to part."
Barry, 28, who joined Villa as a 16-year-old trainee and played more than 400 matches for the club, signed a five-year deal with Manchester City on Tuesday. "I feel the club (Villa) is in the best position it has been in during my time here," added Barry. "I think we have a group of very good young players, we have a fantastic chairman (Randy Lerner) who is here for the good of the club and one of the best managers (Martin O'Neill) in the game.
GOOD DEAL
"Obviously, people will ask why I am leaving if I feel like that. But, after changing my mind lots of times, I came to the decision that the time was right for me and for the club to part company," he wrote in the letter.
"I believe the deal is a good one for the club, I am sure the manager will use the money well to strengthen the team and the club will go from strength to strength.
"I am also excited now about my new challenge.
"A lot of people will question my decision to join Manchester City but... I feel I am joining a club that will seriously challenge to win major honours.
"People might doubt that, but I am convinced with the plans the club has short term and long term," said Barry.
His signing could be the first of many at City in the close season as manager Mark Hughes looks to use the buying power of the club's billionaire Arab owners to build a squad that can improve on this year's 10th-place finish.
