Thierry Henry spoke to SPORT's Javier Giraldo about his time at Barcelona.

Javier Giraldo

Less than a month since you retired, are you missing football?

Not yet, because it's not yet sunk in. Normally now I would be on vacation die to the MLS [Major League Soccer] calendar and I feel like I am on holiday. When the league starts again, in March, and I'm watching it at home, it will feel strange. But I clearly felt it was the right moment. Twenty years at this level is not easy: Every minute, every hour, every day you have to think of your work as a footballer. I was luck to play for great teams and I have no regrets.

Memories of Barça?

Incredible memories. People know that I represent Arsenal, that's undeniable, but Barça is different. I understood the meaning of 'Més que un club' in my second year. Before I had seen it, people has told me it, people tried to explain it to me, but I didn't know what it consisted of. You have to live it to understand. I saw the best of Barça, but I think I learnt more from the worst, in my first year. You have to suffer before you can enjoy, and I enjoyed the treble year because I had come during a difficult season. Never, never in my life amd I going to forget the year of three titles. I came to Barça to win titles, mainly the Champions League, and that doesn't have a price.

What do you remember of the Rijkaard-Guardiola transition?

I learnt a lot that first year. It was the worst. But for me it allowed me to get to know myself much better. It's never easy to arrive at a new place, and then Barça were ROnaldinho, Messi, Eto'o and Co. I could have stayed with Arsenal, but I always wanted to try Barça and at the time it made sense. It wasn't easy: Many people have had to leave Barça after one season and I had doubts when my first year ended. People were angry and the atmosphere was strange. But I spoke with Pep, we had a great conversation before the summer and, thanks to him, I decided to stay. People expected more from me and you have to know how to adapt to that, you can't pretent the club will adapt to you. I stayed and experienced an incredible season. If I had left Barça, I would never have forgiven myself. I stayed and things worked out.

Fans may say your best moment was the 2-6 at the Bernabeu...

I can talk about all that from another perspective now. It was an unforgettable game. I understand that I am not a born culé, nor am I one by family or tradition, but that day I was one Barcelonista more. I'd noticed before the feelings of the fans that allowed them to identify with the club so much, but that day I remember returning to El Prat airport and seeing a mountain of people and thinking: "We've still not even won la Liga!" The fans celevrated that victory like it was a title. That was when I realised what 'Més que un club' really meant. Barça is a culture, a religion, something more, it is an incredible club. Of course, after Arsenal, it's that club I most feel part of. Each week, I look for Arsenal's and Barcelona's results.

Who first explained to you the significance of 'Més que un club'?

When I arrived at Barça, Samuel Eto'o said to me: "This club is incredible when winning; you can't comapre it to anything else." And I said to him: "Hopefully".

But you came after winning many titles with Arsenal...

Yes, but that was another thing. Barça is Barça and now I can explain why it is significant: the training, what the people ask for, the press, the manager, the demand of wearign the shirt. I don't know what happens at other big clubs in Spain, but at Barça, when you put on the shirt... you have to be prepared to wear it. I'm so happy I was able to participate in Barça's history and share a team with such a marvellous generation. I can always say I have been there.

Despite the big moments, do you feel you lacked a 'feeling' with the fans?

Maybe people have that sensation because I didn't like talking to the press much. I admit that I have a way of being which is very particular: I didn't want to show a lack of respect to the press, but I didn't want to talk. I preferred to focus on my work. However, I said it when I left Barça and I will say it again: I consider myself a culé... always and for as long at the people of Barça will allow me to be one. I travel a lot and people all over the world tell me they are culés as well. I could end up talking about Barça all day.

You were at Barça for three years, but could have stayed longer. Was it injuries that impeded that?

In my last three months I rarely played. It's true I had a back problem, but I have to tell the truth: Pedro deserved to play and for that reason I didn't play. It was the same when I was younger and took the place of a teammate. However, it surprised me a lot how the fans treated me when we celebtated that la Liga (2009-10), chanting my name. That moved me considering I thought they only wanted to see PEdro. It was a pleasant and unexpected surprise.