Barca in for £20m Henry
-
BARCELONA are plotting a fresh £20million bid for Thierry Henry. And the Catalan giants believe a renewed assault for the Arsenal striker could finally pay off. The shock news came as American tycoon Stan Kroenke snapped up 9.9 per cent of the club to spark takeover talk.
Henry, 29, was wanted by Barca and Real Madrid last summer but the Frenchman decided to stick with the Gunners. Now Nou Camp transfer chief Txiki Begiristain is ready to test boss Arsene WengerÂ’s resolve to hold on to his skipper.
Henry has already told club officials he wants to remain in North London for the rest of his career. Yet Barcelona, who could lose Samuel EtoÂ’o in the summer, plan to pressure Wenger into letting Henry leave after going two successive seasons without a trophy.
But Arsenal know they would still face a major problem if they sold Henry without bringing in a top-class replacement. KroenkeÂ’s move to buy a 9.9 per cent stake in Arsenal has made a takeover more likely. The US billionaire, who owns MLS team the Colorado Rapids, bought the stake from ITV.
He paid the broadcaster £65m — which includes £23.1m for ITV’s 50 per cent stake in the club’s broadband operations. Kroenke said last night: “Because of our long-time involvement in major sports, we greatly admire Arsenal Football Club.
“We appreciate the club’s outstanding legacy, sporting tradition, and exceptional commitment of its supporters.” The deal makes Kroenke Arsenal’s fourth-biggest shareholder. -
Billionaire buys stake in Arsenal
ITV plc have announced they have unconditionally sold their 9.99% shareholding in Arsenal Holdings plc to American Stan Kroenke's KSE UK Inc. KSE began a business partnership with the Gunners in February through Major League Soccer club Colorado Rapids.
Last month, Kroenke's spokesman Jurgen Mainka denied the American billionaire wanted to buy the club. Kroenke has interests in NFL side St Louis Rams and owns the Denver Nuggets (NBA) and Colorado Avalanche (NHL).
Arsenal are valued at around £404m and billionaire Kroenke was widely thought to be interested in buying shares. There is an increasing trend of American businessmen linking up with English clubs.
This season Liverpool and Aston Villa have been bought by American business tycoons, and Manchester United have been owned by Malcolm Glazer since 2005. Kroenke came 153rd in the prestigious Forbes 400 - a list of the wealthiest Americans. That put him seven places higher than the Glazer family and 89 ahead of Villa owner Randy Lerner.
Arsenal's major shareholders, including vice chairman David Dein and director Danny Fiszman, are not believed to be interested in selling up. The deal with Colorado is designed to build Arsenal's brand in the United States, while also helping to develop the MLS club.
The arrangement between the two clubs includes the development of a Centre of Excellence in Colorado, the transfer of coaching ideas and the launch of the Arsenal Cup, a club tournament open to teams from all over the US. -
wow
-
lol go barca
-
THIERRY AND ARSENAL COULD BE UP FOR SALE
THIERRY HENRY'S Arsenal future was in doubt again last night as three European giants insisted the Gunners are ready to let him go. Less than a year after Henry signed the contract he expected to tie him to the north London club for the rest of his career, Inter Milan, Barcelona and Real Madrid are all working on the assumption that Arsenal are prepared to sacrifice their skipper this summer. And while Henry has no wish to end his stay at the Emirates Stadium, the final decision may be down to Arsene Wenger if a suitable offer is received.
Barca, Real and Inter are all circling, under the belief that the Arsenal board is willing to listen to bids in the region of £12million for the player, who turns 30 in August. That would give boss Wenger much-needed cash to help fund an overhaul of the squad that is already 23 points adrift of Manchester United - having finished 24 points off Chelsea's pace last term.
Inter have already made an unofficial approach to test the water and Arsenal's response has not put them off coming back for real in the summer. And sources at both Barcelona - who may be willing to include Samuel Eto'o in a player-plus-cash exchange - and Real are briefing that they have been told Henry is no longer "untransferable" in the eyes of the Arsenal board amid claims that he is at times a "disruptive influence".
That criticism, if genuine, seems unfair on a player who has always given everything for the Arsenal cause. Yet Henry's injury-plagued campaign has seen his bond with Wenger loosened, even if the captain's public commitment to the Gunners has been unceasing. -
It might be a blessing in disguise. It might be good to offload Henry if he's on a decline.
-
no henry means no motivation for arsenal right now, they cannot afford to lose their most experienced player right now, if they selll henry, only left with lehmann, gallas and toure who are experienced
-
wait long long la barca, greedy idiots
u tink henry wanna leave meh? -
Barca? Henry is here to stay
THIERRY HENRY has told Arsenal he will not join Barcelona this summer. Spanish giants Barca have resurrected their interest in the Gunners captain in the belief he is unhappy at the Emirates Stadium. But Henry made it plain to Arsene Wenger he wants to stay — and was reassured that the feeling is mutual.
Arsenal boss Wenger revealed: “It’s wrong that he will go to Barca. I had a chat with him on Friday morning and it’s clear he wants to stay. I’m clear. I want him to stay. “He wanted to make it clear to me that the stories are not true. I was not concerned because I know the day Thierry Henry wants to leave he will knock at my door and say: ‘Listen, I want to go somewhere.’
“As long as he didn’t do that I wasn’t worried. -
arsenal should sell him now!!!
-
why? i know he's totally off form this season but that doesnt mean we should sell an off form player. He will be back. the old thierry.Originally posted by dragg:arsenal should sell him now!!! -
America is invading England!
And Arsenal will never sell Henry... at least not for the next few years. -
ehh, i read wenger said that the henry case is a no issue..
-
Stan Kroenke owner of denver nuggets...tt mean..allen iverson might visit emirates =/ lol..
-
If the likes of Barcelona and (F up club) Real Madrid keeps persisting, I think it's time for the clubs to seek legal advice against these teams. They don't seem to understand the words" Not for sale" . Sue them millions for damages.
-
nothing liao nothing liao
close thread! -
There were reports that Steve Nash & some NBA club owners is visiting Man City after NBA finals07 this come summer!Originally posted by lalaTearz:Stan Kroenke owner of denver nuggets...tt mean..allen iverson might visit emirates =/ lol..
-
