Thierry Henry maintains a strong relationship with Cesc Fabregas, whom he first crossed paths with at Arsenal.
When Fabregas strolled through the doors at Colney as a 16-year-old, very few would’ve anticipated what was on the cards for the Spaniard.
Henry certainly wouldn’t have, meeting Fabregas when he signed in 2003, watching the teenager grow from a scholar to his teammate and an Arsenal icon.
Though the former midfielder burned his bridges at the Emirates, many associated with the North Londoners remain firm admirers of the 38-year-old, including Henry.
Thierry Henry says Cesc Fabregas has had one trait since he first joined Arsenal
The ex-Arsenal duo own minority shares in Italian club Como 1907, the side that Fabregas currently manages.
Still working closely together, Henry has seen the majority of the Spaniard’s footballing journey and recently admitted that, in one sense, he’s not seen a lot of change.
“Cesc was always a thinker,” Henry said on The Overlap, lauding the now-retired midfielder’s proactive personality.
“When he arrived at Arsenal, the way he broke into the team now, he was thinking the game. I always said there was a difference between playing the game and thinking the game, and he’s definitely a thinker.”
The Arsenal legend was referring to how seamlessly Fabregas has taken to management, noting the growing interest that the coach has from some of Europe’s biggest clubs.
“Not to go into too much detail, but a lot of clubs are coming for him. There are rumours of Milan, Roma… It is [good news] to be fair and good for him, although he’s there with us, and I think Cesc might be the first coach in history who has shares in the club.”
The Frenchman was overly complimentary of his former teammate, who is impressing on the sidelines as much as he once did on the pitch.
Fabregas is thriving at Como
Henry believes Arsene Wenger was changed by Fabregas, saying all that needs to be known about how highly-rated the World Cup winner was in North London.
Signing for Chelsea certainly tainted how the midfielder is now viewed at Arsenal, but even his biggest haters can’t deny his success in management.
After Como secured promotion to Serie A last term, the Italian side finished 10th in the top flight, ensuring that their competitors knew they were there to stay.
As a result, and as Henry touched upon, Fabregas has been linked to some top managerial jobs, following in the footsteps of many former players before him.
It’s admirable what the Spaniard has managed to do in his first senior managerial job, with Henry one of many aware of what the future could hold for the former Arsenal man.
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