Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has revealed he only left Arsenal as he was unsure if Arsene Wenger would stay at the club.
“I never considered leaving Arsenal.” Henry told beIN Sports. “But I was 29 years old and in form, I thought all the guys left and I did not know if Arsene [Wenger] would be staying.
“It was not easy and when I left I cried. I’m not ashamed to say it. I’m a competitor and I had to leave.”
Henry joined Barcelona in a £16 million deal in June 2007 but insists that he had to force his way into Guardiola’s plans.
“When I arrived at Barcelona, Guardiola told me that I was the fourth-choice striker and I would not be starter,” said the Frenchman.
“I accepted the challenge and I fought, and competition makes you increase your level. People talk about luck, but you need to create you own. When you work, you got the reward at the end.”
Henry also revealed the extent of his struggles at Juventus, which prompted his move to Arsenal in 1999 after just 19 appearances for the Serie A club.
“When I arrived at Juventus, there were many problems,” said Henry. “The team was not running well. I played under Ancelotti in a 3-5-2, a system where I had trouble fitting in.
“I struggled, even after I started to score. But I left for other reasons because Luciano Moggi [Juventus’ then chief managing director] wanted to do business. It was not respectable what he did.”
This story certainly highlights the importance of Arsene Wenger at the club. Whilst his tactics have come under scrutiny in recent years, nobody can doubt the player pull power he has. The likes of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil have quoted Wenger as a key reason for joining the club. When he is finally replaced, we need to ensure we bring in a manager of a similar calibre and importance.
Quotes in association with Goal.com