Speculation over the future of Thierry Henry will intensify after he slammed the exit of vice chairman David Dein, saying it 'wasn't a clever move' and he was 'devastated', while admitting he is flattered to be linked with a move to the likes of AC Milan.

In an exclusive interview with ESPNSoccernet Press Pass, the Arsenal skipper discussed his future at the Emirates amid talk of a move and bemoaned the loss of a man who, in tandem with manager Arsene Wenger, had been central to the Gunners success.

Dein left Arsenal earlier this year due to unreconcilable differences with the rest of the board, believed to surround the proposed investment from American businessman Stan Kroenke.

Henry was in no doubt about the effect of Dein's departure when pressed on his future following recent newspaper stories in which Carlo Ancelotti confirmed his interest.

Henry told ESPNSoccernet Press Pass: 'It's great to hear [being linked to AC Milan]. How can you not think that? On the other side as I said to you, and so many times at the moment, I'm an Arsenal player.

'Everybody knows that a lot of stuff happened at the club recently that wasn't supposed to happen. In terms of the departure of Mr Dein, the bosses have been unsettled and a lot of players have been unsettled in the club. So the only thing I can tell you is right now I'm an Arsenal player but hearing that is nice to hear, I can't deny it.

The Gunners' record goalscorer did not hide his disappointment at Dein's exit. He said: 'I was devastated. Everybody who knows Mr Dein, we know that the guy loves football. He knew everybody at the stadium, the name of everybody and I mean everybody at the club, whether you play for the youth team or you clean the dressing room - he knew everybody.

'He's the type of guy who used to turn up raining, snowing, windy, to watch the under-17s, the under-19s, the reserves - everybody - on his own at the training ground and one person that I wouldn't have liked to leave the board, would have been Mr Dein.

'But it's out of my hands, I'm not up there. I don't know what happened, and I don't want to know what happened.'

Henry's respect for Dein was further underlined by his opinion that he, with Wenger, has made Arsenal the club it is today.

'What I'm saying to you is that Arsene and Mr Dein, although no one is bigger than the club, are really close to being Arsenal,' Henry added in his interview with ESPNSoccernet Press Pass. ' If you ask me, they're the two people for me who come really close to ever one day saying it.

'But I would like to say that whatever happened, Mr Dein leaving wasn't a clever move.

'So far I'm here, talking to you, about a thing that happened that I didn't agree with but sometimes that's just the way it is. It happened, and we have to move on.'

Despite Henry's future in north London being in doubt, he sees the signs of recovery for an Arsenal side which has been off the pace in the Premiership in recent seasons.

'The potential is definitely there,' he told ESPNSoccernet Press Pass. 'The signs are definitely there. So now let's hope we can put that all together and bring back some silverware. Man United didn't win the league for three years and finally they did it - who would have said that 10 years ago? So things happen sometimes, you have to keep going and make sure you can be better and have a great season next season.'

Henry also admitted that the move to the Emirates made it difficult to compete: 'At the end of the day, everybody knows all of our resources went into building the new stadium. Therefore, you have to deal with what you have. So that's why I would like to give credit to some of the youngsters. Maybe if we don't have a new stadium, we would have done better and maybe have more players, I don't know.

'Sometimes you can't invent something that you don't have or create something that you don't have, so you have to deal with what you have. We're still playing good football, ok, not winning anything at the moment but you know, you have to give us that at least.'

He wants us

Henry will end up in Barca .. R10's sale is this summer

Henry will end up in Barca .. R10's sale is this summer

The English media would be writing non-stop for days and with a lot of criticism because they despise Italian clubs. 

Common, hes said like 3000 times that he's staying.
But the media need to hit their deadlines so they won't listen.

I personally think that Henry will be leaving Aresenal in the summer. Now whether it's to Barca or someone else is unknown, but chances are that he is more likely to leave then to stay.

Milan link pleases Henry
Friday 8 June, 2007
Arsenal hitman Thierry Henry has admitted that he is pleased to be of interest to Champions League winners Milan.

The Gunners’ captain has been linked with a move to the San Siro after Coach Carlo Ancelotti admitted that the striker was among the players the Rossoneri were following.

“That is great to hear,” said Henry to The Sun newspaper. “How can it be anything else?

“As I have said many times, now I am an Arsenal player, but everyone knows that many things have happened at the club recently that were not supposed to happen,” added the Frenchman, referring to vice-chairman David Dein’s departure in April.

“In terms of Mr Dein leaving the club, the bosses and a lot of players at the club have been unsettled.

“So the only thing I can tell you is right now I am an Arsenal player, but I cannot deny it’s nice to hear about Milan,” added the Barcelona target.

The 29-year-old signed a four-year contract with Arsenal last year which suggested he would end his career with the London outfit.

However, he has since been plagued by injuries and has grown frustrated at Arsenal’s inability to compete for the Premiership title.

“It’s always the same top four and I’m actually getting annoyed that we’re finishing at the end of the top four now,” he said recently, fuelling speculation that a summer move may be on the cards.


channel4

Common, hes said like 3000 times that he's staying.
But the media need to hit their deadlines so they won't listen.

I promise you that there is NO way that is happening.

Wow. He really does want out. You could tell that much just by the tone of his voice.

Not my very favouritest player, but he's very good. Wouldn't be gutted if he played for Milan next year.

Are you sure about that? 

Henry?? Well yes, he's exactly the kind of person I was asking for last season, a guy who can drift outside left and bring players into the game. I kinda thought Oli would do the same, but no such luck.

But then again, he's a not a SS, he's already failed once in Serie A, he's expensive, and he means we probably won't be signing any hot young talents.

After Sheva I'm worried about every single big name we buy...then again guess Carlo isn't fool enough to play him outta position...

Ancelotti: Henry deal 'difficult'
9 Jun 2007

Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti has told Sky Sports News that it will be very difficult for the Italian club to prise Thierry Henry from Arsenal this summer.

The Gunners captain is being heavily linked with an exit from North London and recently admitted he was flattered by talk of interest from the UEFA Champions League winners.

Henry's eight-year association with Arsenal looks to have been thrown into doubt by former vice-chairman David Dein's departure from Emirates Stadium and Barcelona are also ready to move for the French star should he opt to leave the Premiership.

However, the Milan coach is playing down talk of a possible move for Arsenal's crown jewel, insisting it will be extremely difficult to bring the striker back to Italy where he once played under Ancelotti at Juventus.

"He is a very good forward, but not the only forward, there are other good strikers," Ancelotti told Sky Sports News.

"Henry has a contract with another club and it is difficult to buy players who have a contract."

Only last summer, Henry turned down the chance to move to Barcelona in order to commit his long-term future to The Gunners, but speculation regarding his future has hit fever pitch once more.

Fellow Gunners striker Emmanuel Adebayor is desperate to see his skipper stay at Emirates Stadium next season.

"He is the best player of the team, he is one of the best players in the world," said Adebayor.

"He is one of the biggest players we missed during the season and if he is there we will be happy because he is still there to score, but obviously that's football.

"We hope he is going to stay."


skysports

Don't expect Henry to be that World class striker, because he's not going to be. He'll be decent enough but if Gila plays well, he'll be on the bench because R9 is irreplacable.

Unless Henry takes up the 'Seedorf role'?

No way Henry will be benched in any team in the world.

Seedorf's role? In our 4-3-1-2? No... no way.

But stop with Henry. He's not joining us. If he leaves L'Arsenal he'll go to Spain.

Ancelotti will push for Henry, he's promised us a World class player, and that would have to be a striker

Is that for real?

I don't even understand why Ancelotti is coach then, he may get a bunch of players he doesn't want, or doesn't feel fit into his plans. I thought he gave a list of names to whoever and they went out and got anybody off the list.

That's plain stupid, no wonder we're the worst team in Europea when it comes to transfers. 

I don't even understand why Ancelotti is coach then

What I meant by: 'Why is he coach' was that I heard he doesn't really get involved with training with the team, apparently he doesn't do transfers.

So all he does is tactics and picks the team? 

In Italy, Spain, France, Portugal... the word "manager" doesn't exist. In the EPL the coach has more power and control in the club - the manager.

In all the other big leagues, that doesn't happen.

Obviously the Milan staff and administration knows exactly what to do in the majority of the situations. That's why we're the best club in the world.

What I meant by: 'Why is he coach' was that I heard he doesn't really get involved with training with the team, apparently he doesn't do transfers.

Stop picking on me, dst!

Carletto was his coach at Giuve 9 years ago... that could be good... or bad.

I meant taking Seedrofs role when we only play with 1 striker. I don't think Seedorf should be in the team in the 4-3-1-2. Rino, Ambro and Pirlo should be the 3, Kaka' the 1.

Ancelotti will push for Henry, he's promised us a World class player, and that would have to be a striker. R10, Eto'o, Drogba, Sheva are all not coming, Henry's the only one left, i think so anyways.

Henry has the kind of attitude where the fact that he was awful in Italy, he'll have to go and change that.

@R7: It would give us balance attack/defense wise. But left to right? No. I think Janku is a better attacker than Oddo, so we'd have two attackers on the left, none of the right. I wonder where we're going to attack. 

I do agree Seedorf is key. But in those games you mentioned, we played the 4-3-2-1. Which I think he fits into. 

Henry joining Barcelona. They already agreed the terms. Just miss the "OK" from Arsenal.

http://www.francefootball.fr/FF/breves2007..._153137Dev.html
France football usually is reliable. It's also everywhere.

Remember guys, my theory "1+1=2". We'll see who's correct in the end. 

PS: Many thanks Tennie.

Henry going to Barca could only mean that Eto'o is the one to move imo

Henry going to Barca could only mean that Eto'o is the one to move imo

or ronaldinho

or ronaldinho and etoo