Barcelona welcomes Thierry Henry · 2007-06-26 17:09
Thousands of fans turned out at Barcelona's Nou Camp stadium today in order to welcome star striker Thierry Henry to the club.
The $38 million move from Arsenal was completed when Henry, who turns 30 in August, passed a medical and put pen to paper on a four-year deal with the Primera Liga side.
"Thierry Henry is a player we've been after for many years and now he's here," Barca president Joan Laporta told a news conference.
"Johan Cruyff wanted to sign Thierry Henry for Barcelona when he was a young player. When I was elected president in 2003 I wanted to sign him, we also wanted to sign him last year and today it is a great pleasure to see him here."
Henry will wear the No.14 shirt worn by former coach Cruyff when he was a player, Melbourne Herald Sun reports.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said: "It was Thierry's decision to leave Arsenal but he goes with my blessing. On behalf of everyone at the club, we wish him the very best for the future."
Wenger has no doubt that the French striker will enter Arsenal folklore as one of the greatest players ever to have represented the north London club, Goal.com informs.
He added: "Thierry has been tremendous for us since he arrived in 1999. He has excelled both as part of a team and individually. In short, he has become an Arsenal legend. Personally, I would like to thank Thierry for the huge contribution he has made to the club's success over the past eight years."
• Paris Hilton left prison dressed casually
• Lindsay Lohan plans: "no alcohol" to be served
|