Thierry Henry and the Xavi Hernández dressing-down that defined his Barcelona journey

Thierry Henry was an Arsenal legend, but that status meant nothing when he arrived at Barcelona — and Xavi Hernández made sure he understood it early on.

Thierry Henry was an Arsenal legend, but that status meant nothing when he arrived at Barcelona — and Xavi Hernández made sure he understood it early on.

The moment Henry clashed with Xavi at the Camp Nou

A clip of Thierry Henry speaking with Carragher and Neville on “The Overlap” has gone viral, as Henry recalled an episode that helped him understand what Barcelona really was.

“One day I was walking up the stairs at the Camp Nou and I saw ‘Més que un club’. I said to Samuel Eto’o, kind of joking: ‘come on, what is this?’” Henry explained.

Henry added that he didn’t realize Xavi was right behind him and had heard everything.

“Xavi told me: ‘Hey, what did you just say? Don’t ever talk like that about my club. You haven’t won anything here yet. Shut up and work. If you ever win something, then I’ll allow you to talk.’” Henry recalled.

How Henry responded to Xavi’s warning

Henry—who joined Barcelona during the Guardiola era alongside Xavi, Iniesta, and Messi—said the confrontation didn’t go any further and that he apologized to the midfielder.

“At that moment, he was right. Xavi knew exactly what the club meant, and I didn’t. After I won and lost there, I truly understood what it represents.”