Gullit: I don't think Henry will stay

Former Chelsea manager Ruud Gullit believes Arsenal captain Thierry Henry could be set to quit the Premiership and move abroad.

Henry became Arsenal’s all-time leading goalscorer when he returned from injury to surpass Ian Wright’s mark of 185 goals during the 2-0 Champions League win over Sparta Prague in October and his record currently stands at 189.

However, the France international has not signed his new contract with his current deal set to run out in summer 2007 and he has constantly side-stepped questions about his future.

Instead, Gullit believes Henry could be set to leave Arsenal where he has plied his trade since arriving from Juventus in August 1999.

“I can see again that he came back from a major injury. Immediately he comes in and scores goals,” Gullit told Sky Sports News.

“It means he is something special. We’d like to see him more in the Premiership but I don’t think it is going to happen.

“Maybe he is going abroad.”

Henry has been linked in the past with Spanish giants Real Madrid although recent speculation has connected him with Primera Liga champions Barcelona.

Although Gullit admits it is only “a feeling”, rather than any hard facts, the former Newcastle and Chelsea boss has an inkling Henry will head abroad, with the Nou Camp a possible destination.

“It’s just as feeling. Maybe he wants to see as a player, travel around, see what it is to play in another league,” said Gullit. “I’m from Holland. I went to Italy and then to England. The experiences are the most important experiences in my life.

“The fans would not be happy about it but it is also about you as a person.

“If you get opportunities to go abroad and see other championships, you can’t blame him for that.

“I think Barcelona will fit him also.”