Giuly expects Henry to join Barcelona

Arsenal's Thierry Henry celebrates after scoring is team's second goal against Juventus during a Champions League quarter-final at Highbury in London. Barcelona's Ludovic Giuly has hinted that he expects Henry to quit Arsenal and join the Spanish champions at the Camp Nou next season.

Barcelona's Ludovic Giuly has hinted that he expects Thierry Henry to quit Arsenal and join the Spanish champions at the Camp Nou next season.

The two sides meet in next month's Champions League final in Paris and Giuly believes that will be the last time Henry will play for the Gunners.

The France international, who played alongside Arsenal's all-time top goalscorer at Monaco, told The News of The World Sunday: "We speak on the telephone all the time and we have had a conversation recently.

"I think he's coming. He will say so when he makes an announcement before the World Cup starts.

"I can tell you for sure that he will get a great welcome in Barcelona because everybody is excited thinking about him in our shirt."

The former Monaco skipper, who moved to Barca in 2004 on a seven million euro, three-year deal, added: "He is one of the world's top players and can only make our team better."

The 28-year-old Henry has enjoyed a remarkable season, breaking Arsenal's goalscoring record and leading them to the Champions League final at the Stade de France on May 17.

And Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is hoping that his London club's brilliant run in Europe will entice his prize asset, who is also being wooed by Real Madrid, to stay put.

This week Henry became the first player to be named England's Footballer of the Year for a third time by the Football Writers Association.

The French ace, who has stalled on signing a new deal with Arsenal, is meanwhile savouring the chance to lift his and Arsenal's first European crown in Paris.

"I was born in a suburb of Paris while (teammates) Abou Diaby and Alex Song were both born just around the corner from the Stade de France," he said this month.

"Obviously I remember winning the World Cup there with France in 1998 and people can see the story repeating itself this year.

"Back home they are already saying it's going to be Arsenal's year because the final is in Paris and we have so many Frenchmen (in the team)."