Thierry Henry reveals why he left Arsenal for Barcelona in 2007 - as he opens up on 'difficult' situation and family life at the time

Thierry Henry recently shared the reasons behind his 2007 move from Arsenal to Barcelona, revealing a mix of personal and professional motivations. At the time, Henry was going through a divorce from his first wife, Claire Merry, which made it difficult for him to see his daughter, Tea. This emotional strain was compounded by professional challenges at Arsenal, where the team was in transition after the "Invincibles" era. Key players had left, and uncertainty loomed over manager Arsène Wenger’s future, prompting Henry to seek a new challenge.

Joining Barcelona was not easy. Henry arrived injured, faced a language barrier, and had to adapt to a new playing style under intense pressure. He was initially considered fourth choice behind stars like Lionel Messi, Samuel Eto’o, and Ronaldinho. Despite these hurdles, Henry’s ambition to compete at the highest level and win the Champions League drove him forward. His decision paid off, as he won seven trophies with Barcelona, including two La Liga titles and the 2009 Champions League.

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Henry described the move as emotionally difficult, admitting he cried when leaving Arsenal, a club where he remains the all-time leading scorer. However, the opportunity to join a star-studded Barcelona side and achieve his Champions League dream was too significant to pass up. Reflecting on his career, Henry highlighted the resilience required to overcome personal and professional obstacles during this period. His candid revelations offer fans a deeper understanding of the complexities behind one of football’s most high-profile transfers, shedding light on the human side of a sporting icon’s decision to leave a beloved club for new horizons.