Henry unveiled as Barca player

BARCELONA – French striker Thierry Henry was officially unveiled as a Barcelona player yesterday after he finalises his transfer from Premiership side Arsenal.

The 29-year-old underwent medical tests yesterday morning before he was formally presented to the public at 6pm (1600 GMT) at the Nou Camp wearing Barcelona’s dark blue and red jersey for the first time. “It means a lot to come here and play with some of the best players in the world,” Henry told the club’s television station after he arrived in Barcelona on Sunday night on a private flight from London.”Barca is more than a club.Everybody knows about Barca.The most important thing that has made me come is the way Barca plays, the fans and the support they give,” he added.Barcelona are believed to have agreed a four-year deal worth 24 million euros (32 million dollars) for Henry who will join stars Deco, Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto’o and Lionel Messi.The club said on its website that there were still some loose ends to tie up before Henry’s move could be finalised.”There are still a few minor details to be sorted out between the three interested parties: Arsenal FC, FC Barcelona and Thierry Henry,” it said.Barcelona is looking to strengthen its squad after finishing runner-up in the Spanish league this season behind arch-rivals Real Madrid.It completed the La Liga and Champions League double in 2006.Henry’s signing would give Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard more attacking options in addition to Eto’o, Messi and Ronaldinho whose run of form this season was spotty.Messi was among the first to hail the arrival on Henry, who is Arsenal’s leading all-time scorer with 226 goals in 369 games since moving to Highbury from Juventus eight years ago.”Henry is a great player and for that reason he is coming to Barca,” he told reporters.Currently sidelined with a leg injury, Henry said that he hoped to resume full training in two weeks and be ready for Barcelona’s start to their preparations for the new season on July 20.He also said he hoped to continue to play a full part in France’s campaign to reach the Euro 2008 finals in Austria and Switzerland.Henry has played 92 times for his country and scored 39 goals.Barcelona tried to snare Henry last year but he opted to sign a new four-year contract with Arsenal that would have seen him stay at the club through 2010.But the departure from the London club of vice-chairman David Dein and the doubts swirling around the future of coach and fellow Frenchman Arsene Wenger led the player to consider moving to Spain.”Arsene has been part of my life for as long as I can remember,” he wrote in an open letter to fans published in British daily The Sun on Saturday.”I cannot take the chance to be there without Arsene Wenger and David Dein,” he added.Nampa-AFP”It means a lot to come here and play with some of the best players in the world,” Henry told the club’s television station after he arrived in Barcelona on Sunday night on a private flight from London.”Barca is more than a club.Everybody knows about Barca.The most important thing that has made me come is the way Barca plays, the fans and the support they give,” he added.Barcelona are believed to have agreed a four-year deal worth 24 million euros (32 million dollars) for Henry who will join stars Deco, Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto’o and Lionel Messi.The club said on its website that there were still some loose ends to tie up before Henry’s move could be finalised.”There are still a few minor details to be sorted out between the three interested parties: Arsenal FC, FC Barcelona and Thierry Henry,” it said.Barcelona is looking to strengthen its squad after finishing runner-up in the Spanish league this season behind arch-rivals Real Madrid.It completed the La Liga and Champions League double in 2006.Henry’s signing would give Barcelona coach Frank Rijkaard more attacking options in addition to Eto’o, Messi and Ronaldinho whose run of form this season was spotty.Messi was among the first to hail the arrival on Henry, who is Arsenal’s leading all-time scorer with 226 goals in 369 games since moving to Highbury from Juventus eight years ago.”Henry is a great player and for that reason he is coming to Barca,” he told reporters.Currently sidelined with a leg injury, Henry said that he hoped to resume full training in two weeks and be ready for Barcelona’s start to their preparations for the new season on July 20.He also said he hoped to continue to play a full part in France’s campaign to reach the Euro 2008 finals in Austria and Switzerland.Henry has played 92 times for his country and scored 39 goals.Barcelona tried to snare Henry last year but he opted to sign a new four-year contract with Arsenal that would have seen him stay at the club through 2010.But the departure from the London club of vice-chairman David Dein and the doubts swirling around the future of coach and fellow Frenchman Arsene Wenger led the player to consider moving to Spain.”Arsene has been part of my life for as long as I can remember,” he wrote in an open letter to fans published in British daily The Sun on Saturday.”I cannot take the chance to be there without Arsene Wenger and David Dein,” he added.Nampa-AFP