Everton striker Thierno Barry has spoken out after his home was burgled while he was playing in the team's Carabao Cup win over Newcastle United. The 24-year-old scored his seventh goal of the season in that 3-1 victory at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Thursday night, a result that sent the club into the fifth round where they will travel to Fleetwood Town.
Barry posted on Instagram on Friday evening to address the incident. He stated that the most important thing was that his partner and their one-year-old daughter were safe in the stands at the match. "NOTHING and NO ONE will stop me from making this season MY season!" Barry said. He added that he would not put his family at risk by sharing details of his personal life online, noting that things could have been far worse.
The break-in occurred at Barry's home in the Bowdon area of Trafford, Greater Manchester, on Thursday evening. Intruders jumped a fence and entered the property despite it having a CCTV and alarm system. They were inside for around five minutes before police, alerted by a neighbour, arrived. Greater Manchester Police confirmed an investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made. Items reported stolen include handbags, jewellery and signed first edition Harry Potter books.
Barry's partner, Charlene, who shares their daughter Alayna with the player, later posted on social media offering a financial reward for information leading to the identification of the burglars. The family are the latest in a string of Premier League players to be targeted, with incidents involving Morgan Gibbs-White and Bruno Fernandes occurring in recent weeks.
The forward's focus remains firmly on his football. His goal against Newcastle was his third of the campaign in eight Premier League appearances, making him the club's top scorer so far. He is now just one goal behind his total of eight from the entirety of last season, with more than half of his strikes this term coming in the Carabao Cup. His treble against Preston North End in the second round was a highlight.
Everton's form has been mixed, with the cup win providing a bright spot. The team sits 14th in the Premier League with 10 points from eight games, having followed a win over Ipswich with draws against Hull City and Arsenal and a loss to Chelsea. They face Newcastle again in the league on Monday, a quick reunion after their cup success. Barry played the full 90 minutes and provided an assist for Hayden Hackney's goal in that 3-1 win, with James Garner and Dan Burn also on the scoresheet.
The player's childhood was described as never easy, and this latest off-field challenge has only strengthened his resolve. He believes in giving himself the best possible chance and protecting the people he loves. Everton's next fixture is that league trip to St James' Park, where Barry will look to continue his productive form in front of goal.
This story first appeared at Daily Mirror Football
