Henry close to leaving Arsenal for Barcelona

Jun 22, 2007 - 11:56 PM BARCELONA, Spain (Ticker) -- Barcelona vice president Ferran Soriano has confirmed that negotiations to bring Arsenal striker Thierry Henry to the Nou Camp are at an "advanced" stage.

Reports in Spain claimed on Friday night that Barca were close to finalizing a four-year deal for the Arsenal captain and French World Cup winner.

There was no word from Arsenal or Henry's agent Jerome Anderson about those reports, but Soriano was quoted by Spanish newspaper Marca as saying, "The talks are advanced, but the agreement is still not closed."

However, Soriano did reveal that it was "the wish of all parties" for an agreement to be reached for the transfer of Henry, who could be presented as a Barca player on Monday if the move goes through this weekend.

The Barca vice president also insisted they waited for the green light from Arsenal before making their move for the 29-year-old striker, who is the Gunners' all-time leading goal-scorer.

"We don't want to point a gun at anybody," Soriano said. "We have good relationships with the European clubs."

Henry, the most influential player in Arsenal's history, admitted the shocking departure of vice-chairman David Dein last season had been unsettling for everyone at the club. Dein left following a boardroom dispute over the increasing involvement of U.S. billionaire Stan Kroenke in the club.

It now looks as if the brilliant forward is set to call time on his eight-year stay in London.

Manager Arsene Wenger will have no doubt tried to convince his talisman to remain at the club, confident it could again compete for honors both at home and abroad.

A fee of 24 million euros ($32 million) was reportedly agreed between the clubs, although Barca was later said to have insisted the deal has not yet been completed.

Henry, who inherited the Arsenal captaincy from Patrick Vieira two years ago, has long been linked with a move to the Nou Camp - and speculation about a move grew after Arsenal was beaten by Barca in last year's Champions League final.

The 29-year-old then penned a new four-year contract and revealed he planned to spend the rest of his career with the Gunners.

But the rumors refused to go away, growing in intensity after Henry revealed his disappointment at Dein's departure.

He recently admitted he was flattered to be linked with European champions AC Milan but poured scorn on reports he had already agreed a deal with Barca.

"Last season, people were announcing all over the place that I was leaving," Henry said a fortnight ago. "Some people wrote that it would happen for sure, but at the end of the day, I stayed at Arsenal. It could be the same this year.

"I've not taken any decision and my name is not up on any departures board. If something happens, I will tell everybody. Nothing is done. I repeat, nothing. At this moment, I am an Arsenal player and in the same situation as I was last year."

One particular report in France prompted Anderson to order legal action against the publication.