Thierry Henry has not forgotten Juventus. Although he spent only a short period of his career in Turin, the former French international speaks about the Bianconeri with emotion and admits that the difficulties the club is going through affect him. Speaking on the French podcast Kampo, Henry reflected on his time in Italy, rejected the suggestion that it was a failure and showed just how much respect he still has for Juventus.
“It hurts me to see Juventus in this situation”
Speaking about the club whose shirt he wore in 1999, Henry openly described his feelings:
“It hurts me to see Juventus in the situation they are in now, but it is an exceptional club.”
His words carry particular weight precisely because of his short spell in Turin. Henry did not achieve his greatest successes in the black and white shirt, but it is clear that Juventus was never just another stop along the way for him.
A short spell in Turin, a great career afterwards
Henry arrived from Monaco in January 1999, just a few months after becoming a World Cup winner with France. At Juventus, he did not find a role that would best showcase his attacking qualities. He also played as a wide player with significant defensive responsibilities, before moving to Arsenal that same summer.
It was in London that he established himself as one of the greatest strikers of his generation. Nevertheless, his later success did not lead him to look back on his time in Turin solely through the things he failed to achieve at the time.
“A failure at Juventus? Absolutely not!”
When asked whether he considered his spell in black and white a failure, Henry responded decisively:
“My spell at Juventus was a failure? No, absolutely not! I would never say that, not for a moment.”
He explained that a footballer can take valuable lessons even from a challenging period. For him, those months in Italy were part of his development, not an experience that should be erased from his career.
The respect that remained even after his departure
Henry’s story is a reminder that a relationship with a club does not depend solely on the number of seasons, goals or trophies won. His playing career took him elsewhere, but his respect for Juventus has clearly remained.
That is why his comments about the Bianconeri’s current difficulties sounded so personal: like the sadness of a former player who remembers the greatness of the club whose shirt he once wore.
Source: Tuttosport
