Henry: Au Revoir

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Wenger talks pave way for Henry’s move to Barcelona

Arsène Wenger appears to have signalled his willingness to sell Thierry Henry by entering into negotiations with Barcelona for the first time. The Arsenal manager met Ferran Soriano, the Spanish club’s financial director, in Paris this week for preliminary discussions, though both parties remain some distance from agreeing Henry’s transfer.

Wenger wants to sign Samuel Eto’o as part of the deal, but Barcelona are reluctant to allow the Cameroon striker to leave despite his problems at the club this season. Eto’o has fallen out with Frank Rijkaard, the coach, and Ronaldinho, his team-mate, but this week spoke of his desire to stay at the Nou Camp and play alongside Henry, whose arrival would represent a greater threat to the Brazil forward.

Eto’o is a close friend of Henry and the pair have spoken recently about the prospect of forming a new strike partnership. Even if Barcelona were willing to release Eto’o in order to secure Henry’s services, they would demand at least £10 million from Arsenal to complete the deal. AC Milan are also interested in Henry, but Barcelona would be his preferred destination.

Wenger’s surprising decision to speak to Barcelona stems from his realisation that he is running out of options, with Henry eager to take what many believe would be his final opportunity to move to Spain. Wenger may resolve to cash in on an unsettled player in any case, as he did when selling Patrick Vieira to Juventus two years ago.

Barcelona are expected to make a preliminary offer next week of £15 million and with Arsenal’s asking price £20 million, the parties are not too far apart. The negotiation of Henry’s personal terms may not prolong the process as Barcelona have prepared a three-year contract offer worth £6.7 million a year with an option for a further 12 months.

Henry was close to joining Barcelona last summer but changed his mind in the emotional aftermath of Arsenal’s march to the Champions League final in Paris, signing a new contract two days after their 2-1 defeat by the Spanish club. The 29-year-old had cause to regret his decision during a difficult season in which he made only 27 appearances because of various injuries as Arsenal finished fourth in the Barclays Premiership.

Barcelona sources were claiming last night that the transfer could be completed next week, though it may drag on for much of the summer. Henry is on holiday in the United States, watching his close friend, Tony Parker, compete for the San Antonio Spurs against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Finals, and will want to talk to Wenger before making his decision.

The pair have had a close relationship since first working together at AS Monaco more than a decade ago and Henry retains a great attachment to Arsenal after spending eight successful years at the club, though his recent comments on his future have been ambivalent.

“At this moment I am an Arsenal player and in the same situation as I was last year,” he said this week. “Last season people were announcing all over the place that I was leaving. Some people wrote that it would happen for sure but at the end of the day I stayed at Arsenal. It could be the same this year.

“I’ve not taken any decision and my name is not up on any departures board. If something happens, I will tell everybody.”

Jerome Anderson, Henry’s agent, has also said that he will sue France Football magazine after unsubstantiated claims that he met Txiki Beguiristáin, the Barcelona sporting director, to discuss a move.
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The Times

Seems as though hes finally off......
 
It's about time too
 
Just last week I thought this was all nonsense but I'm not so sure anymore.

If we lose Henry I think Wenger will hold out for Eto'o coming the other way. I won't be so disappointed then but losing Henry is a big blow. One of the best players to have ever played in the top flight of English football and these type of players aren't easily replaced. Still think he has a lot to offer as well, he has an injury ruined season, nothing more. Seven years and injury free it was bound to happen at one point. Next season will come roaring back again, even last season scored 11 goals despite being well off the boil. The so called best players in this league didn't do that much better despite playing the whole season.
 
Is this news is real the world has gone crazy and there are gonna be girls with 3 tits out there... apart from the sarcastic comments there will be one less team on the title race for next season if this is true :smirk:
 
Ronaldo scored 17 and Drogba scored 20. So neither of them scored double the goals he did :confused:
 
Eto'o won't go to Arsenal when he has almost every big club in the world after him. Surely?
 
Eto'o will be a great addition to the league, terrific player.

Arsenal might well be better off without Henry. That way, we won't have to watch that gay dance/goal celebration with Adebayor anymore.
 
ALX8725 said:
Is this the beginning of the decline of Le Arse??
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IMO as long as we have Arsene Wenger we will definitely be in at least the top 4, many of our players will come back stronger and much better for next season so I think the top 4 shouldn't be a problem. If we can get Henry back to top form or get another top quality player in only then can we launch a serious title challenge.

Brad Cantona said:
Ronaldo scored 23 goals last season
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I was talking about league goals.....
Wibble said:
Eto'o won't go to Arsenal when he has almost every big club in the world after him. Surely?
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Supposedly has a lot of respect for Arsene Wenger and has always wanted to work with him
 
I'm sure he does. Most players probably do. But when you seem to be in so much demand it would seem an odd move to go to a team who have have slipped off the pace a bit and lack the funds to get back on terms with Chelsea or United (for e.g.). Doubly so if the deal involves that teams best player going in the opposite direction. Stranger things have happened mind.
 
Henry shouldn't cost as much as he would have done a year ago. So they would have been better of selling him last year as he did feck all this year but that's hindsight for you.
 
CounterStrike said:
That's the plan for a title challenge?

:lol:
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That should actually read 'and get another top quality player in' and yes I do think that would be all that is needed for us to put up a serious challenge, whether we win the thing is another matter though.

Injuries are part and parcel of the game but we aren't blessed with squads the size of your lot or Chelseas. Look how many league games these guys missed last season. Gallas - 17, Clichy - 12, Eboue - 14, Henry - 21, RvP - 17, Rosicky - 12, Ljungberg - 20. Those guys would of played a huge part in our season but injuries prevented them from doing so. Saha for your lot missed 14 games I believe so it gives you an idea of how long these players were out for.

If we can have a bit of luck with injuries, get one more goal scoring midfielder in I seriously believe we could challenge for the title. There is a lot of quality in our squad and if people watched our games even without Henry we dominated most games but just didn't have enough killer instinct infront of goal. Chance after chance we messed up and if can put that right we should do ok. Won't be easy but nobody ever said it would be....
 
Arsenal had their 15min of glory, it's almost over now. We'll see Theo "the next Henry" Walcott and Denilson "the next Gilberto" leading the team next season, pushing bravely for a UEFA cup place :)
 
I imagine a big part of Arsenal's attraction to Eto'o will be due to Henry. If Henry leaves, I don't think Eto'o will have the same attraction to move to Arsenal.

And if he is seriously keen on winning trophies, there are more serious contenders who will pay him & Barca top dollar for his services.
 
JazzG said:
That should actually read 'and get another top quality player in' and yes I do think that would be all that is needed for us to put up a serious challenge, whether we win the thing is another matter though.

Injuries are part and parcel of the game but we aren't blessed with squads the size of your lot or Chelseas. Look how many league games these guys missed last season. Gallas - 17, Clichy - 12, Eboue - 14, Henry - 21, RvP - 17, Rosicky - 12, Ljungberg - 20. Those guys would of played a huge part in our season but injuries prevented them from doing so. Saha for your lot missed 14 games I believe so it gives you an idea of how long these players were out for.

If we can have a bit of luck with injuries, get one more goal scoring midfielder in I seriously believe we could challenge for the title. There is a lot of quality in our squad and if people watched our games even without Henry we dominated most games but just didn't have enough killer instinct infront of goal. Chance after chance we messed up and if can put that right we should do ok. Won't be easy but nobody ever said it would be....
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henry, for example, missed most of his games after you had fallen so far behind you didn't have a chance of winning the prem, in fact the decision to rest him until the summer was made because you wrote this season off. I'm guessing most of the other players were similar
 
If Henry leaves, I expect a few other star players in Arsenal will follow too, including Fabregas.
 
For the Premier League, it would be better if he stays. And I doubt Eto'o would go the other way
 
Benitez is probably keenly monitoring the situation.

Disclaimer: not saying this will really happen, just speculating!

Henry (valuation £20m) + 10m cash for Eto'o. That means Barca lose Eto'o and gain Henry + £10m from Arsenal.

Alternatively, we can offer £35 million cash for Eto'o. That means Barca lose Eto'o and gain Henry + £15m.

If Henry and Eto'o are really moving then this should make for an interesting summer, maybe one that p*sses Rafa off if we miss out on both Henry and Eto'o which is likely. :(
 
Dumpstar said:
Benitez is probably keenly monitoring the situation.

Disclaimer: not saying this will really happen, just speculating!

Henry (valuation £20m) + 10m cash for Eto'o. That means Barca lose Eto'o and gain Henry + £10m from Arsenal.

Alternatively, we can offer £35 million cash for Eto'o. That means Barca lose Eto'o and gain Henry + £15m.

If Henry and Eto'o are really moving then this should make for an interesting summer, maybe one that p*sses Rafa off if we miss out on both Henry and Eto'o which is likely. :(
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Is there anything suggesting that Liverpool have the means and / or the will to pay £30m+ for a player?
 
CnutOfAllCnuts said:
If Henry goes to Barca, Eto'o probably goes to Arsenal

Makes too much sense not to happen
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It does from an arsenal point of view, but IMO not from an eto point of view. If it were to happen though, he could be just the man le arse need. It seems to that they dont lack flair or creativity, just someone to stick it in the onion bag.
 
Barcelona want Henry to be a sub. Eto'o seemed to have made it clear he's determined to stay at Barca plus Giuly and Saviola look like they're on their way so I'd assume Henry will become a a back up player for the front three.
 
I think it's best for him to go. He obviously wants to play for them and this will be the last chance he'll get to do that as i dont think Barca would want him next summer
 
It's gonna be a very very interesting season if Henry does leave. I don't want to make the mistake others did with us last season tho', where most people thought that we would be fighting for a top 4 finish, having only bought Carrick last season, and we turned out tops.

Likewise, I think it's gonna be do or break season next season for Arse; either getting rid of Henry has the same effect on them as getting rid of RVN had on us or it really opens up the top four to a major shift in power (which I can't wait for! Why isnt it August already?!?!? :mad:)
 
p_ps_sock said:
henry, for example, missed most of his games after you had fallen so far behind you didn't have a chance of winning the prem, in fact the decision to rest him until the summer was made because you wrote this season off. I'm guessing most of the other players were similar
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Err Henry was injured that was why he hasn't played. He wasn't just rested, he was injured and couldn't play. So were the rest of them, RvP had a broken foot, Gallas had a thigh problem, Eboue knee problem, Rosicky had a few muscle pulls as did Freddie and Clichy did his groin or maybe it was his foot. I'm not quite sure what makes you think we rested our players just for the sake of it. In fact that is a ludicrous suggestion :wenger:

Dumpstar said:
Benitez is probably keenly monitoring the situation.

Disclaimer: not saying this will really happen, just speculating!

Henry (valuation £20m) + 10m cash for Eto'o. That means Barca lose Eto'o and gain Henry + £10m from Arsenal.

Alternatively, we can offer £35 million cash for Eto'o. That means Barca lose Eto'o and gain Henry + £15m.

If Henry and Eto'o are really moving then this should make for an interesting summer, maybe one that p*sses Rafa off if we miss out on both Henry and Eto'o which is likely. :(
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I don't think Wenger will let Henry go unless he gets Eto'o in exchange, that is part of the reason why we might even let Henry go. It was like the Cole and Gallas swap, if Chelsea had said we weren't gonna get Gallas then Cole wasn't moving, simple as that. Our board and Wenger won't make the same mistake they did when they let Vieira go and had no replacement. Also they are good at dragging their heels and getting good terms for the club.
 
RedMarla said:
It's gonna be a very very interesting season if Henry does leave. I don't want to make the mistake others did with us last season tho', where most people thought that we would be fighting for a top 4 finish, having only bought Carrick last season, and we turned out tops.

Likewise, I think it's gonna be do or break season next season for Arse; either getting rid of Henry has the same effect on them as getting rid of RVN had on us or it really opens up the top four to a major shift in power (which I can't wait for! Why isnt it August already?!?!? :mad:)
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Arsenal will be fine, with or without Henry.

It's when Wenger fecks off they will (hopefully) struggle.
 
JazzG said:
IMO as long as we have Arsene Wenger we will definitely be in at least the top 4,



Supposedly has a lot of respect for Arsene Wenger and has always wanted to work with him
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Wenger will be off after next year if they dont win anything!
 
quethenoo said:
Agreed. IMO they genarally have a better level of player than most teams including liverpool.
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Yes, but the fact is that the one thing they were struggling with last season was scoring consistently. Who's gonna do that for them now? (I know, I know... apparently Eto)
 
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