19 goals all comps in his first season in Spain looks good to me, though admittedly I've not watched him either.
8 of those goals were for Basel before he joined Villareal late August.
Not sure what to think about Barry. I get that he is a player the club has followed for some time, but that doesn't make him worth anywhere near his €40 million release clause.
Everyone seems to like an underdog story, but it is very rare that players comes from absolutely nowhere and goes to the very top. Over time many of them will suffer from the lack of footballing education.
- Three years ago Barry had finished a season in French 5th division without impressing anyone.
- That summer he he was signed after a trial by the Beveren on second level in Belgium
Newly promoted Burnley bought Zeki Amdouni from Basel two years ago. He scored five league goals and Burnley have tried to sell him for some time. Barry was Amdouni's replacement at Basel. Not an upgrade for a struggling Basel team and after a season Barry was sold on for less than Burnley paid for Amdouni.
11 goals for Villareal is probably OK. Former Newcastle and Leicester player Ayoze Perez was their leading goal scorer with 19 league goals.
Last summer Wolves signed Strand Larsen from La Liga with a €30 million obligation to buy. He signed after scoring 13 league goals for Benitez' Celta Vigo team that was fighting relegation. Many thought €30 million for him was crazy, but he proved the doubters wrong scoring 14 league goals for Wolves. But €40 million for Barry seems a lot more crazy than €30 million for Strand Larsen.
My guess is that a lot for the noise around Barry this summer comes from his agents. And that if Villareal really rate him he'll get a new contract with more money and a higher release clause. If not he'll be sold for silly money.
