A signing from Aston Villa in the summer of 2009, the England midfielder went on to play 175 games for the Club before leaving in 2013.
He was a pivotal part of the City side overseen by Roberto Mancini that ended our 35-year wait for a trophy with FA Cup glory in 2011 and was also instrumental in driving us towards the most dramatic Premier League title win ever the following season.
Barry was a special guest on Saturday’s latest edition of We’re Not Really Here – our live matchday talk show – alongside Joleon Lescott his colleague from that great side and Michael Brown.
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And asked to reflect on his time at the Club, the former England midfielder asserted: “Just good memories.
“Looking back now I couldn’t have made a better decision. I played with some fantastic players including Joleon.
“I had a great four years at City and wish I could have had a couple more.”
Detailing the qualities that marked Barry out as such a key member of that special squad, fellow guest Lescott added: “Gareth had the ability to adapt to other players. “We knew that Yaya (Toure) and Vinnie (Kompany) would play so we would adapt to them to make sure we played next to them in the team.”
Barry added: “It’s (about) adapting to different games and partners. You’ve got to be unselfish sometimes.
“When me and Nigel (De Jong) started together, Yaya would play in front of us. Or Nigel would come on meaning Yaya could go forward when we needed a goal.
“At the end of my City career I wanted to play deeper and so did Nigel so i would adapt my game which was one of my strengths.”
Barry and Lescott on 93:20
Talk, inevitably, also drifted back to that unforgettable afternoon at home to Queen’s Park Rangers in May 2012 – and, especially, Sergio Aguero’s 93.20 moment when we sealed the most amazing comeback in Premier League history to win 3-2 and so beat Manchester United to claim the title.
Recalling the climax of that amazing day, Barry recalled: “I’d just come off for Edin Dzeko. A superstition the manager had was taking me off for Edin.
“It was a magical moment at the time. Obviously, I wanted to be on the pitch but when the goal went in, I was definitely on the pitch!
“I remember sitting next to James Milner and seeing the helicopter go over and we thought that the trophy was going over to Sunderland!”
Lescott added: “That season we had a great belief and a great pre-season. We were unbeaten, then lost the Charity Shield (to United) which was the best thing to happen to us.
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“It brought us back down to earth and it was a good reality check.”
Barry added: “The confidence (that season) was sky high.
“(Just look at) The forwards we had: Aguero, Tevez, Dzeko and Balotelli as a fourth.
“When you look back the strength in death and the options available was scary and the confidence was sky high.”
