Source: Daily_Mail
Joey Barton Ousmane Dabo
Joey Barton has spoken for the first time about his time in prison and his infamous bust-up with former Manchester City midfielder Ousmane Dabo in 2007.[LNB]The 28-year-old Newcastle midfielder revealed all in a recent interview with a French football magazine - labelling Gareth Barry a "teacher's pet."[LNB]And now the tough-tackling scouser has given his verdict on former team-mate Dabo - brandishing hims a "pussy" - as well as revealing the changes he has gone through as a person since his time in Manchester's Strangeways Prison.[LNB] Changed man: Joey Barton as he leaves Trafford Magistrates Court in 2007[LNB]Today Barton is teetotal but his promising career came off the rails in 2007 after he was involved in a training ground fight with Dabo and he was jailed for six months following a fight outside a McDonald's in Liverpool in late December that year.[LNB]Speaking to So Foot magazine, Barton said: 'You know the Ousmane Dabo thing, I have never really given my side of the story.[LNB]'But it's him who hit me from behind with his hand. And when he did that, I hit him back. So he started it. I didn't.[LNB]'Me, when I am attacked, I defend myself. I grew up in the street, I come from a working-class family in Liverpool and there, when you fight, there are no rules. You have to defend yourself.[LNB]'Ousmane was bigger than me. But it happened just like that. Bang, bang, bang and it was over. The truth is he started the fight and I finished it.[LNB]'I am not a monster. I don't like fighting. But it's human to defend yourself. Humans defend themselves, no?[LNB] Great season: Barton has been one of Newcastle's best players[LNB]'The problem is I hit him three times. But he comes to me and slap. What does he expect? That I say no problem, I forgive you?[LNB]'Of course, it wasn't the best response. But I am a man. If someone hits me, I respond as a man. I am not a w***e.[LNB]'Frankly, Ousmane is a little pussy. Where I come from, when you fight there is no rule. You fight 'til it's over.'[LNB]Barton admits that he has made some shocking mistakes in the past.[LNB]He added: 'All the other problems I have had in my career, I was responsible for them.[LNB]'If I went to jail, that was my own fault. I should never have found myself at five in the morning drunk in the city centre. It was stupid.[LNB]'After each fight, I wasn't taking things seriously. I thought that was fine. And when I ended up in jail, I thought "Oh s**t."[LNB]'When you play football, you have a lot of pressure - from the supporters, the media. It's why, after games, I used to have a few drinks.[LNB] Reformed: Barton has been teetotal since a spell in prison[LNB]'I wanted to forget all that, I wanted to forget I was a football player. At the start, after a couple of glasses, you are relaxed. After two bottles, you do s**t.[LNB]'Since I went to jail, I have stopped drinking. I haven't drunk a glass since. After a game, I sit on my couch, I have Coke and a Twix or chocolate and I watch a game.[LNB]'If there is no football on, I watch golf, sports, but no soaps. I like golf, rugby too. At my place, there is also an aquarium. And I have about 15 racehorses. It's my big passion.[LNB]'Maybe I could call one horse Ousmane. If they have cut off his b***s or he is too slow.'[LNB]The 77 days he spent in Manchester's Strangeways Prison affected the Toon star in a positive way.[LNB]Since coming out of prison Barton has rebuilt his career at Newcastle. He helped them to promotion last season and has been one of their stand-out performers in the top flight this campaign.[LNB]Barton revealed: 'I did not want to find myself in a position where I would have to go to jail again.[LNB] Tribute: Barton is thinking of naming one of his horses after Ousmane Dabo (above)[LNB]'I don't want people to remember me as a madman. I don't see myself as a criminal. But life isn't a rehearsal. You can't go back to delete this or that.'[LNB]Despite his outstanding form Barton's future at Newcastle remains unclear. He is waiting to see proof of the clubs' ambition and contract talks are not set to reopen until the summer.[LNB]He said: 'I haven't signed my contract extension yet. I tell the club "You need ambition." The target isn't to survive, to finish 16th or 17th every season.[LNB]'We had a good player in Andy Carroll but sold him. I was worried it was going to happen every year but the club promised me it wasn't. [LNB]I don't know if I believe them.[LNB]'I will wait and see if the likes of Nolan, Tiot?, Enrique stay. If they do, I will too.'[LNB] Barton brands Barry a teacher's pet as Newcastle bad boy rips into EnglandNewcastle captain Nolan teams up with Mr Loophole to beat speeding chargeAll the latest Newcastle news, features and opinionAll the latest Man City news, features and opinion[LNB] Explore more:People: Gareth Barry, Joey Barton Places: Newcastle, Liverpool, Manchester
