Director of football Jez George has insisted that Cambridge United did not want to lose Luke Berry's services.

The 22-year-old had been with the U's since the age of 14 and he was a key member of the side that earned promotion back to the Football League last season.

However, League One side Barnsley triggered the release clause in his contract yesterday and with the midfielder determined to make the switch to Oakwell, George believes that Cambridge had little choice but to accept Berry's departure.

"It was not the intention of the club to sell Luke Berry, but you can't control what happens with other clubs. The situation was that Luke was out of contract at the end of last season. If we'd allowed that to happen we'd have been at the mercy of a tribunal at the end of the season, and clubs could have come in with next to nothing for him," he told the Cambridge Evening News.

"The only way we could persuade him and his agent, at the back end of March, to sign a new contract was to write in a release clause which was a fair valuation, that both parties were agreeable to and which would at least add some certainty to the situation. It was the pragmatic and best view at the time, but what that does mean is if someone meets the release clause and the player wants to leave then we're not in a position to stop that happening.

"Luke made it clear since the offer came in that he did want to take the opportunity, and he expressed that to me on the phone and in writing, and pleaded with me not to stop the move going through. Ultimately, if he wants to leave and the offer meets the clause in the contract, he leaves."

Berry made over 100 appearances for Cambridge following his debut back in 2011.