Barcelona already planning system for Arsenal's Henry - March 16, 2006
Barcelona coaching staff are already drawing up plans on how to get the best out of Arsenal captain Thierry Henry next season.
A source told the Mirror: "Signing Henry has always been the club's highest priority because it will have a knock-on effect on the remaining money available to Frank Rijkaard this summer.
"Rijkaard and his coaching staff are already working on a system for next season that will integrate Henry quickly and allow him to adapt as soon as possible to playing alongside Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o."
In normal circumstances, Arsenal could have demanded at least £25m for Henry if they were minded to sell.
But with just one year left on his contract at the end of this season, Barca believe the FIFA rules on transfers that came into force at the beginning of last year will see that price drop.
Arsenal have not put a "release clause" into Henry's contract and as he has been at the club for more than three years he can go to a new club for a compensation payment ranging from £3m to a maximum of £10m.
That is the figure Barcelona will put on the table - in addition to his salary of a likely £5m per year - believing Arsenal will have no option but to sell if Henry does tell them he wants to go.
A source told the Mirror: "Signing Henry has always been the club's highest priority because it will have a knock-on effect on the remaining money available to Frank Rijkaard this summer.
"Rijkaard and his coaching staff are already working on a system for next season that will integrate Henry quickly and allow him to adapt as soon as possible to playing alongside Ronaldinho and Samuel Eto'o."
In normal circumstances, Arsenal could have demanded at least £25m for Henry if they were minded to sell.
But with just one year left on his contract at the end of this season, Barca believe the FIFA rules on transfers that came into force at the beginning of last year will see that price drop.
Arsenal have not put a "release clause" into Henry's contract and as he has been at the club for more than three years he can go to a new club for a compensation payment ranging from £3m to a maximum of £10m.
That is the figure Barcelona will put on the table - in addition to his salary of a likely £5m per year - believing Arsenal will have no option but to sell if Henry does tell them he wants to go.
