Petrov says Villa must qualify for the Champions League to keep Barry at the club.
“We all hope Barry stays,” Petrov is quoted as saying in The Sun. “He mentioned that if Villa could get in the Champions League there would be no point in moving.
“So far we’ve shown we can be fighting for a top-four finish with a club where he has been for 11 years.
“He’s one of the best midfielders in the country so you try your best to keep him. We try to make his mind up by challenging the big teams and give him what he wants.
“By keeping the best players, the manager shows he wants to build something big here. Gareth’s the most important player at this club.
“If we keep him, it’ll send out a message to all the players – we are in for something big next year.”
