It looks like Barcelona have got their man at last. Sources close to the club say Barca have agreed a deal with Arsenal to sign Thierry Henry, 12 months after the Frenchman turned down the club’s approaches.
At first glance it looks a good piece of business for Barcelona at a reported cost of 24 million euros. It does raise a few questions, however.
Is there really room at Barcelona for another player of Henry’s stature, in the dressing room and on the pitch? Can Henry, Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto’o all fit in the same forward line?
Are the Catalans in danger of becoming more a collection of high-profile, high-earning stars rather than a real team. Barcelona recently announced another pre-season Asian tour. Are they simply repeating the mistakes of Florentino Perez’s Real Madrid?
And, assuming the move goes through, what does it mean for Arsenal? Do the English club have any chance of replacing Henry with a player of the same influence? Fans must be worrying that if Henry goes, other players, or even coach Arsene Wenger, may be next.
Let us know what you think about the biggest transfer story of the close-season so far and check back for more analysis.
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11 comments so far
Suspect we’ll see either Etoo or Ronaldinho moving away from Barcelona some time soon…
- Posted by LondonWow, honestly I am suprised by this move. I had heard rumors, but I didn’t think it would come through. I’m not suprised Henry is finally leaving Arsenal though. He probably grew tired of not winning any silverware. As for Eto’o, Ronaldinho, and Messi, I’m sure at least one of them will go this summer. I think Henry and Eto’o would work better, maybe Ronaldinho is headed out.
- Posted by Bryangood for him!! now i wonder where eto’o would go? milan or liverpool?
- Posted by http://footballwijaa.blogspot.comYeah, Ronaldinho looks the most likely to leave. He’ll go to Milan for something like 100 million, with most of the money coming from Real Madrid, who’ll pay not far shy of that for Kaka.
- Posted by LondonThis has really got to hurt Arsenal fans (and I’m not that kind of Red). There’s just no one you can replace him with. Not even if they’re going to spend a load of money on Villa or Tevez.
- Posted by redderthaneverI couldn’t help notice the headlines this morning saying Tottenham are going to spend exactly the same amount on Darren Bent. The world is insane, isn’t it?
- Posted by redderthaneverFor an analysis of the options the Henry signing gives to Barça and the possible pitfalls of following in the footsteps of Real’s Galacticos read Mark Elkington’s analysis of the move at http://uk.reuters.com/article/footballNe ws/idUKL234161320070623
The key signings for Barça, though, will be in defence and they desperately need a holding midfielder. That was were Real’s Galactico experiment came unstuck. If Barça can sign up Chivu, Yaya Toure and Eric Abidal then they should be on to a winner.
- Posted by SimonGood point about the defensive signings. Wonder what would have happened if Florentino had not stepped in to scupper the signing of Milito when they really needed him. Might have made a lot of difference.
- Posted by KevinAs you can imagine, Henry’s arrival in Barcelona has made us forget about our humilliating season. I am one of the supporters that has been against Henry’s signing. However, I cannot hide that it brings a huge amount of hope.
I am worried that Henry’s arrival is an invitation for Eto’o to leave the club. If we are about to commit suicide, at least it will be with probably the best 4 players in the world. As an AP editor said. You need to have balls or be very stupid to do what Barcelona is doing. Let’s see the outcome. You cant deny, though, that Barcelona will be a team to watch just for the sake of its lineup.
I recently did a video about it in my blog (it is in Spanish though)
http://lluviablaugrana.blogspot.com/2007 /06/blog-post.html
- Posted by Csai DI think Henry’s move is key. Etoo is wildly unstable although a key player. This season he’s going to be given a second chance to start playing and stop speaking.I frankly believe he’ll make another 5 or 6 dumbass comments and they’ll kick him out at the end of season, that is if he finishes in Barça which I’m not eve sure.
- Posted by JamesBy the way I went to the presentation of Henry and went into an Italian Fashion Fast Food out of the underground stop of Les Corts and I ate really well. I reccomend it, it’s called Easy Presto, I think they have a web page, nice Spaghetti Bolognese and lager of course!!!
Hi James. Restaurant recommendations near football grounds are always welcome! Chrs. I don’t think Ronaldinho, Messi, Eto’o and Henry are ging to play together, although they might all stay in the squad for one season. Then one of them will defo move. Let’s see if it’s Eto’o.
- Posted by Kevin