I hope Henry is not leaving
Update: It’s confirmed - and the twist is that Henry says he’s leaving because Wenger won’t be extended his contract beyond 2008 at Arsenal.
Cue doomsday calls from the media. Arsenal will survive though, and it’ll be interested to see who comes in this summer (and the next, if Wenger is really to go).
We’ve been talking about it for an year now, but when I read the headlines 20 minutes ago it felt like a punch to the gut - surely Henry would not turn his back on Arsenal, and surely Wenger would not have sanctioned such a move?
The newswires are flooded with the story, so kudos to the Spanish radio guys (Cadena Ser radio) who announced this story in Spain a while back, for either breaking the second big transfer story of the summer (first one was the double-signing of Nani and Anderson by United) or for creating a senseless wildfire that will only hurt the clubs (credibility for the media is already long gone).
Will update this tomorrow morning with the latest (see comments till then), but here’s to hoping that this is bullshit.
One thing I would add - there’s no doubt here that if a deal like this actually happens, it will be because Wenger wants it this way, not just because Henry wants to go.
According to Spanish language newspaper Marca and sources close to Barcelona, the Catalan club has captured Arsenal and France striker Thierry Henry for a fee thought to be in the region of $32 million.
According to “Catalunya Informacio” Barcelona vice-president Ferran Soriano brokered the deal. Spanish radio station Cadena Ser says Henry has inked a four-year contract.
I’d check to see if David Dein isn’t Henry secret gay lover
Otherwise Henry leaving shouldn’t, wouldn’t, doesn’t make sense… Oh well perhaps its time to revamp the squad at Arsenal, one thing is for sure IMO, the management and ownership definitely needs revamping
BTW by management I DON’T mean Wenger…
I’ve already had a massive rant about this on the ruud/henry page so i’ll just say the main point from it, henry only £16m players like darren bent £18m????? What an absolute joke!
Arsenal have made a complete cock up there and i for one am not happy
I’ve already had a massive rant about this on the ruud/henry page so i’ll just say the main point from it, henry only £16m players like darren bent £18m????? What an absolute joke!
Arsenal have made a complete balls up there and i for one am not happy
And to think we had rumors of Henry for Eto and £17M just a month ago.
Sorry, man. It doesn’t look like bullshit, you usually know that when the BBC and Skysports agree on something. But I hope theat he’ll somehow stay with Arsenal; he’s one of the players who brings quality to the Premiership.
I agree with you Chancre if Bent costs 16m, Henry should be more like 25m. Im curious to see if the Bent transfer will go through now…
So Henry loves the club, loves the supporters and wants to stay at Arsenal for life. What a load of bollocks. What the hell is going on at our beloved club? and why once again are we not hearing anyone trying to reassure the fans? Oh well at least we’ll be able to console ourselves with the thought of Wenger signing a 16 year old wonderkid who nobody’s heard of but he’ll be a superstar in 5 years. By that time Barcelona will come in with a megabucks offer and he’ll be off just like Thierry. Wenger and the Atsenal board are very conspicuous in there silence!
bbc are quoting their sources at barcelona - same sources who probably tipped off Cadena Ser in the evening as well.
usually when skysports and bbc quote sources they’re not always being truthful, and mind you this story originated out of rumours leaked to the Spanish press.
The fact that Henry’s reps have said no comment points to a deal, because with the mess that’s been built right now they could have ended it in a minute.
As a Barça fan, I have to say I hope Henry spends the entire season with his arrogant arse on the bench.
It’s “almost” official:
€24M / £16M
4 year deal
€6M/year / £4M/year
A good or bad deal? Only time will tell. Barcelona is in a bit of a turmoil because of the way they lost the La Liga. Let’s see how Arsenal will cope next season without Henry.
Even though I am a hardcore ManU fan, I don’t want him to leave. He’s one of the reasons people watch EPL(and specially Arsenal). If Wenger has allowed this, does this mean Arsene Wenger is replacing Frank Rijkaard at Barcelona ?
Hrmmmm as say yeah this is pretty official… Sports Illustrated ran a story yesterday, other wise there is gonna be a lot people putting their foot in their mouth.
No matter what, Henry going to be playing with The Catalan’s next season. As what Viera said before about Henry “His going to ask himself is it worth staying in Arsenal with all the young players in the squad? When Arsenal going to be truely strong?”
Henry is not getting younger as we all know, and I feel this move is best for him cause he really suits the fast pace attacking football of Spanish LaLiga. I believe his not hunger for more titles since he already won almost everything with Arsenal, he just wants UEFA Champions League and happy,enjoy playing football with a team that suits his capabilities.
Is not the question of loyalty,just all about what he feels about his career,his future, what will you all feeel about this whole thing if you all are in his shoe.Think about it,where will you want to go if you have abilities like Henry? Do you still want to stay with Arsenal with many young players while your going to be at the peak of your career? What you want to achieve more?
We will not kno what he has being asking himself lately, but we do know that his intentions are getting clearer. EPL going to miss Henry very much.
Honestly i dont care, as i’ve tirelessly pointed out, i think we have the quality to survive. But 16 million? that waste bent is offered for how much 17? If this is true(the bit about the money,that is) then it is a massive ****up on Wenger’s part………….
the offer was actualy $16 mill and i was just watching sky sports they still dont know whats going on. I think he is in Spain right now and the updates will happen hourly. Ill try to keep u guys posted
another thing that interests me is what will Arsenal do now. If they go for Torres or Owen or even Eto’o im gonna be happy for them because to tell you the truth Henry has about one or two good seasons left and he is done
its official!!!
They say that on monday he will sign with barcelona for 24 million
No doubt this smells like Chelsea’s move for Shevchenko, although I’m certain Henry will fare much better for Barcelona. But still, it’s not very wise for a 30-year old to leave the club where he spent the most of his career. It’s a huge bite, and he’s not getting any younger. If I were in his place I would either leave the smelly Arse last season(when he was top of the pops) or never. I feel it’s a bit late now.
To be honest I would be more than happy to see Henry swapped with Eto’o, Henry is a legenbd and we all love him and any true gooner can not love him. He is our record scorer for god sake! Bloody Oath I want him to stay but if he goes, I would only be happy with Eto’o, Kaka, Ribery or Ronaldinho…THta wont happen
sad to see him leave the premiership, but then does that mean eto’o will be flogged this summer? we’ll have to just wait and watch in the second half of this saga, i guess!
I still feel that Henry wont leave Arsenal. And the reason is simple. He plays for Arsenal, the two names are related to each other like anything. But then players like Keane, Beckham have left United, and the recent management issues at Arsenal may force Henry to move. But like Bilal said, its all upto Wenger to decide, he made him stay last season, and he can make him stay for another. IF that rumor about Wenger off to Barca holds any truth, then this maybe a well planned move from both. First Henry goes and then Wenger. Whatever happens, these aren’t good times for Arsenal fans right before the season. Arsenal needs Wenger and Henry.
Henry leaving for Camp Nou may seem like a thunderbolt to Arse(nal) fans but the fact remains that it is a good move for the individual’s career. Instead of forever mentoring a slow to react side and play under a insatiable Wenger, Henry will develop as a player at Camp Nou playing under the inimitable Rijkard. Also, with Ronaldinho and Messi for company, he could very well form a wonder group with them and savour unprecedented glory. Plus, it will be awesome for Barca too, especially if you consider the price. Even though Henry may not have more than 5 years of football ahead of him, he could prove to be just the cutting edge required to make Frank Rijkard’s men invincible. But I think we can now write off Arsenal from the next season’s race
I wouldn’t write off Arsenal this easily. Let’s see who they bring in first.
As an Arsenal fan, I feel betrayed because Henry said at the beginning of June, “I will be at the Emirates this season”. However, to say I did not see this coming would be false. Anyone who follows either La Liga or the Premiership would realize that Barcelona was intent on signing Henry since last summer. As to Anish’s comment, Arsenal should not be written off so easily. They still have talented players who carried the load for Henry while he was injured. Arsenal still survived without Henry for the majority of the season and managed to secure a Champions League birth.
As a Spurs fan - Yes Henry is arrogant but with the quality he has, he can be. I think he will be a success in Spain, this is a loss for the premiership and for the Gooners.
I actually think this is pretty good business by Arsenal (if it goes through). I mean, Henry hardly played last season (only 17 matches), so they have had plenty of opportunity to find out what to do. They have Adebayor and van Persie doing well, and obvously they’ll bring in someone on the front line.
But getting £16-17 mil for a player who’s 30 and injured most of last season isn’t that bad. Remember United only got £10,2 mil for Ruud (plus £1 mil in clauses recently).
Arsenal finished 4th mostly without Henry last season, so if they can keep the rest of the squad together and sign 2 or 3 strong players, they’ll have a really good team. It’ll be interesting to see what influence his departure will have on the team. It looks dificult for them to challenge for the title, but that goes for any team except United and Chelsea, who will look a class apart come the season, I’m sure.
But looking at the departure itself, it’s a huge loss for the Premiership. He’s truly one of the greats in the history of the league and his spectacular runs and goals will be missed
This is a very very big loss for the Premier League.
arsenal had no choice but to get rid of him..because with all his non commited comments…and the way acted on the touchline while he was injured..it almost felt like he was the manager and not wenger…
now the £16 million aquired from the transfer arsenal can be used to streghnthen the squad by getting a decent winger like say ryan babel…and maybe a decent striker like an owen…who’s get out clause if i’mnot mistaken is 11 million…they do need a decent centre back as well..
p.s-i’m a MAN UTD. fan
I really hope that he doesnt go he is a gun at arsenal and will probly hav a real good yr so i hope he doensnt ho
doesnt go*
Well, though Ahmed is right that it would be too early to write off Arsenal so soon, especially since we don’t know who they are going to buy, I still feel that Henry’s absence subtracts from this Arsenal team an inexplicable indispensable which will really cost them dearly. All said and done, the talents and felicity of Van Percie and Cesc Fabregas granted, it might just take the gooners something more than just that to overcome the bulldozing Red Devils and the relentless Chelsea. A miracle can always occur, but if Arsenal go on to win the next season, then that’s what it is going to be- a miracle.
Looks like its been confirmed by the man himself. Initially I was absolutely shocked at the transfer amount. Having thought about it and in light of Henrys comments I can understand it, but I still think this was not a good amount at all. Im sure Wenger has something up his sleeve but we really could have done with more money to find a replacement and strengthen other areas.
With regards to how we will do next season I’m not optimistic at all. I still think we will have the third best team in the league, especially in light of Henry’s minimal contribution last season, but I cant see us winning the league, we wont be much stronger than last season regardless of what happens in the summer. Players who see what has just happened will be less interested in us and we wont be able to sign a top striker, at the moment Anelka,McCarthy and Martins are the only decent options. Bent is unproven a the top level (and a rip off) and Wenger would not touch Michael Owen with a 10 foot bargepole and rightly so.
As for Henry, I sincerely wish him all the best at Barcelona. Henrys never been my single favourite player at a given time but looking back, overall no player has done more for the club or given the fans as many good memories in the last 20 years, including Tony Adams. I am sure every fan who is 35 or under has him down as the greatest Arsenal player of their time. All the best and thanks for everything, we love you.
huge lost if true!arsenal will not be the same without him am hearing reports there is no money for players but who knows,one thing for sure is that arsenal will need to hope fabergas learns to shoot next year!
henry,messi,ronaldiniho,eto=barca unbeatable!
This is from TheWorldGame site, it only has true stories no romours since it is a tv show site..
Barcalona have secured Thierry Henry’s Signiture. The France and former Arsenal striker is set to sign a 3-year deal with the Catalan giants in a few days.
Thierry Henry may play a final “Tribute’ game at the Emirates against reigning European Champions AC Milan, the game may not happen though.
Arsenal will get 28 Million Pounds for the Frenchmans departure, Arsenal may possibly lure Eto’o, Bastien Schweinsteger, Andriy Schevchenko or Michael Owen to the Emirates with the money from Henrys leave.
NOT SURE HOW TRUE IT IS BUT
Wenger, please please get Anelka, he would never have paired with Henry(2 colossal egos) but now it should work. As for Henry, all I can say is thanx for all the good work, we’ll miss your sublime touch(belive me Nistelroy is not a patch on you) but I sure wish you had some more spine to tell the truth out boldly. Your exit was pathetic, very much like some of your antics in your last season……….
i think wenger will leave next. now is the best time to sack McClaren
i wont write arsenal off just yet.
Any blame should be on the gunners management and not on any player. Just hope they somehow persuade Wenger to stay past next season…………..
let him be…. arsenal is better of without him…. gilberto and toure for the captains…
Gilberto should be captain full stop.
INMHO you should never have a forward or a goalkeeper as a captain no matter how good they are. They dont see enough of the game. The best position is a holding midfielder who is in constant state of motion with the defenders and the attackers.
Toure shoudl be VC and deservedly so on ability and true passion for the club.
Van Persie is going to be just as good as Henry once he is fit again. And is a perfect foil for Adebayor. It was obvious byt he Batista (sp) experiment that a bulldozing forward doesnt suit the gunners style, so another ball playing forward would do the trick. Or even play Rosicky and Van Persie playing oustide Adebayor in a 4-3-3 formation that would allow the on rushing style that any neautral footballing fan loved when Arsenal were on form.
Im a LFC supoprter and im glad that he is gone from the Premiership. Not because he “apparantly” weakens one of our rivals but because he never truely had his heart at the club for the past 2 years, almost mercenary style.
I think Arsenal will come out of this much stronger than people think. Wenger may just yet unearth another class player to shock us all !! Or he could be gone in a year and Hiddink could continue the high quality football regime.
Sorry need to post again to subscribe to the topic !
i want bast henry unombar one