Wenger denies Henry heading for Barcelona

ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger has strongly rejected reports from Spain that his captain Thierry Henry has agreed to join Barcelona next season.

The 28-year-old World Cup winner has declared his desire to remain in north London, but as yet no new contract has been formally agreed.

Barcelona president Joan Laporta is a keen admirer of Henry, although the club themselves have officially refuse to comment on the possibility of striker moving to the Nou Camp in what would likely be a world-record deal.

That stance, however, has not stopped the issue being debated in the press, both here and in Spain.

However, Wenger declared: "I do not believe there is any truth in that because I cannot imagine that Thierry would do that. Secondly, do not forget that Thierry is under contract until 2007, so anything agreed without us being involved can only be invented because it cannot be true.

"After that there is a game going on between the Spanish press and English press. The Spanish press brings something out that is not true and the English press answers that, and the same on the other side.

"It is always Marca (daily Spanish sports newspaper) who bring out stories like that and England, of course, put a bit more on it."

Wenger now accepts such speculation is all part and parcel of the European game.

"I cannot stop any noises or transfer rumours. I tried for a while and I could not do it, so there are a few solutions. Either Thierry extends his contract now or does it at the end of the season, or I do not know what his intention really is to do.

"I believe he will stay with us, but for me the most important at the moment is that he is focused on doing well with the team and I am convinced he does that because his answer on the pitch."

Wenger, however, understood there were more than just pure footballing matters for Henry to consider.

"Certainly a player like Thierry Henry will want to play Champions League, but there is more at stake than that, more than one year in the Champions League," the

Arsenal boss said.

"It is 'do I want to finish my career at the club?' And to be a player who has dedicated his career, his sports life basically, to one club or not."

Wenger added: "I can understand every player has a choice to make, but at the end of the day we are judged not on what we do in four months but what we do today and tomorrow."

Wenger will not rush Henry into any decision, and revealed further talks are planned.

He said: "I think yes [more dialogue], but basically we know what we want, he knows what we offer but you have to respect a player is not completely ready yet."

Wenger also admitted he has had a soft spot for Real Madrid since childhood but has no intentions of leaving Arsenal just yet, as he looks to build them into one of the strongest sides in Europe.

Reports in Spain suggest new Real president Fernando Martin is keen on luring the Frenchman to the Bernabeu, with AC Milan coach Carlo Ancelotti and former boss Vicente Del Bosque also said to be on his wishlist.

"I love Real Madrid," Wenger declared, who would have grown up aware of their great side of the late 1950s.

"It is certainly, after Arsenal, a club I love because of my childhood. It was the team I admired when I was a kid and I have a lot of good memories for Real Madrid. But my priority is to do well for Arsenal because I am here and I feel we are in the rebuilding process of a big team again and I want to do that."