Henry: I can't wait to show Barca fans what I can do
MADRID: France striker Thierry Henry completed his 24.0 million euros ($32.30 million) move from Arsenal to Barcelona on Monday saying that he had come to the club to play a style of football he had always admired.
Henry, who turns 30 in August, was unveiled at the Nou Camp after passing a medical and signing a four-year deal with the Primera Liga side.
"I'm delighted to be here and so pleased that I will have a chance to show what I can do," Henry told a news conference.
"This is a club that wants to win everything and I will try my hardest to help them achieve that. I'm going to give 100 percent and I'm not going to be putting myself before the club.
"Barcelona play a style of football I've always admired. I want to be part of that and to play in this great stadium and to enjoy some amazing football.
Barcelona president Joan Laporta said that signing rangy striker had been a long-standing dream of the club.
"Thierry Henry is a player we've been after for many years and now he's here," said Laporta.
"Johan Cruyff wanted to sign Thierry Henry when he was a young player. When I was elected president in 2003 I wanted to sign him, we also wanted to get him last year and today it is a great pleasure to finally see him here.
"He is one of the best players in the world and given his quality, experience and commitment he comes to Barcelona at the perfect moment."
Henry was presented with the number 14 shirt, the squad number he had at Arsenal and the same as that worn by Barcelona great Cruyff.
The Frenchman offered a few words of fluent Catalan after being presented with the shirt, saying his former Arsenal teammate Cesc Fabregas had coached him on what to say.
With expectation reminiscent of that which greeted Ronaldinho when he joined the club in 2003, an estimated 20,000 fans turned up at the Nou Camp to witness the arrival of the French striker as he walked out to the sound of the club anthem.
Looking rather taken aback by the reception he saluted the crowd, juggled with the ball and posed for the traditional round of photographs.
"I was very surprised to see so many people out there waiting," said Henry. "You don't even dream about things like that. It's true what they say, Barcelona is more than a club."
Barcelona were denied a third straight Primera Liga title on the final day of the season a week ago, losing out to arch-rivals Real Madrid on head-to-head results.
A great deal of soul-searching has gone on since then after a season with no silverware, and the club has moved quickly to strengthen the squad and appease the fans.
Henry was the focal point at Arsenal and their top scorer in four of the five Premier League seasons between 2001-06, though he spent much of the last campaign sidelined with injury.
Agencies
(China Daily 06/27/2007 page24)
