Jose Mourinho has revealed that he played a part in almost bringing Thierry Henry to Barcelona early in the French striker’s career.
The Chelsea boss said in the week Henry announced his retirement that the player came within “an inch” of sealing a transfer to the Camp Nou from Monaco in 1999, but instead elected to sign for Italian giants Juventus.
“It was when I was an assistant at Barcelona in 1996 with Mr. [Bobby] Robson,” disclosed Mourinho in an interview with talkSPORT.
“He was playing for Monaco and went to Juventus, so we lost him by an inch. After that he was not on my radar because it was never a possibility he would come to one of my teams.
“Could you imagine him leaving Arsenal to come to Chelsea at that time? I wouldn’t imagine so.
“He is the kind of player you need forever, especially in the Premier League where he played more than any other place.
“He was good in Barcelona and with the French national team, but the real Thierry Henry, the player we are all going to miss, is the one who had unbelievable seasons and made incredible history in the Premier League.”
