O'Neill: Rafa's got no respect

Benitez expressed his surprise last week that O'Neill was so angry that news of Liverpool's £10 million bid for Barry had been leaked to the press.

The bemused Spaniard claimed that he had discussed the "idea" of a transfer with O'Neill as far back as "20 days ago."

O'Neill, however, strongly disagrees and lambasted the Reds boss yesterday for his alleged conduct.

Villa boss O'Neill said: "He has said he respects my wishes. I am not sure he respects anything."

O'Neill added that suggestions that they were having an on going conversation about a Barry deal were "absolutely crazy."

He said: "It was not a prolonged conversation. 'No' doesn't take too long to say.

"It is any club's prerogative to put in any offer they see fit to put in, but it is also the receiving club's prerogative to say no. I would not then expect this to appear the following day in a newspaper for me to react to."

He added: "I have no idea what he (Benitez) is talking about.

"It suggests this is a conversation that I wanted to keep going, to keep on the boiling pot. Absolutely not. It's a complete nonsense."