Next for Thierry Henry: MLS? Or Back to Arsenal?

By: Laurie | April 25th, 2008

It’s looking more and more like it could be one-and-done for Thierry Henry at Barcelona.

Arsenal’s former super-striker joined the team only last summer, but he has struggled to fit it at Camp Nou. He’s usually played out of position on the wing rather than in the striker role he prefers, and he continues to struggle with ongoing physical issues. Rumor is that both parties are unhappy and perhaps ready to deal, despite Barcelona having spent a jaw-dropping £16.1 million to bring him in less than a year ago.

So, if these rumors of an impending exit are true, where does he go now?

There have been some rumors linking him to MLS, and especially to the 2009 MLS Expansion side Seattle Sounders FC. (You need to click on the link, if only to see the photo.) It’s a possibility. The Sounders have deep-pocketed owners like Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and Hollywood mogul Joe Roth. And Henry has previously expressed an interest in coming to MLS.

Martin Rogers at Yahoo Sports, for one, thinks there’s a fair chance that this will happen.

Now, Seattle is not New York, but Henry still would find a measure of anonymity and the sort of vibrant culture he loves so much.

There still is the possibility the Red Bull company could try to take advantage of his affinity for New York and try to bring him in, especially as it looks like youngster Jozy Altidore is playing his final season in MLS before heading to Europe.

It will be tough to shake off Seattle, though, with the multiple millions of Paul Allen’s dollars driving a club that already looks likely to become a force in the league before it has played a single game.

But a trip to MLS is not a given, and Henry’s rumored departure has a number of other teams all atwitter. The EPL’s Newcastle, for one, is rumored to be interested.

Not so fast, though. Henry said in a recent interview that it’s Arsenal or nothing. And it’s no secret that a lot of Gunners fans would love to see him back at the Emirates. And Arsene Wenger, despite being known for not taking back players who leave, is not ruling it out:

Although Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said he would be delighted to have Henry back at the Emirates, he did not expect his compatriot to return in the near future.

“You can never say never, he still loves Arsenal,” said the Frenchman.

“It will be the club of his heart for the rest of his life, but when will he wear a red shirt again as a football player? I don’t know.”

Or, according to the interview, he could still stay at Barcelona.

So what’s next for Henry? I personally would love to see him in MLS. But on the other hand, have you ever had friends who seemed perfect for each other, right up until the time they broke up? And then you hear that they’re back together again. And it just feels right.

That’s kind of how I feel about Henry and Arsenal.