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Topics: Arsenal, Thierry Henry, Lionel Messi, Zinedine Zidane, Dennis Bergkamp, Premier League, Football
Chris Byfield
Topics: Arsenal, Thierry Henry, Lionel Messi, Zinedine Zidane, Dennis Bergkamp, Premier League, Football
Thierry Henry snubbed Lionel Messi and Zinedine Zidane when naming the best player he's played with.
Having played for Arsenal, Barcelona, Juventus and the France national team, Henry has shared a dressing room with some of the greatest players in history.
Indeed, the Frenchman has played alongside eight-time Ballon d’Or winner Messi, as well as Zidane, Andres Iniesta, Xavi, Ronaldinho, Patrick Vieira, Robert Pires, Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Carles Puyol, Yaya Toure and Samuel Eto’o.
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But when asked for his pick of the bunch, Henry opted for Netherlands, Ajax and Arsenal legend Dennis Bergkamp.
The Dutchman joined Arsenal in 1995 and went on to help the club to three Premier League titles, including an unbeaten campaign, and three FA Cup trophies.
“Because of longevity, and because I saw him every day in training for seven years, Dennis Bergkamp,” Henry said in a 2015 Facebook Q & A .
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“Why? Because he was always doing what the game was asking him to do.
“I admired how Dennis was always trying to respect the game. He could score but he could also pass and wait for the right moment…he was always trying to respect the game when he could do other stuff. I respected him a lot for that but also the way he trained.
“The way he used to train was just not normal. The guy didn’t want to lose the ball; he would foul you; get in your face; he wants to be first in the run.”
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Naturally, Henry also went on to mention Messi, who he played alongside at Barcelona, as well as France team-mate Zidane.
Henry continued: “But then I have to mention the freaks. Leo is a freak. I think you guys [fans] do not understand what the guy is doing.
“Him, Zizou, all these guys, you cannot do what they do, because it’s not humanly possible.”