SOCCER ace Thierry Henry has told pals he quit Arsenal for Barcelona to get away from “everything English — including my wife”.
Henry, 29, walked out on Croydon-born model Claire, 27, days after joining the Spanish giants last month. The pair, who have a two-year-old girl, will divorce, The Sun can reveal.
And Henry is living the single life following his move to Barcelona — and his bitter marriage break-up.
Pals say he has been lapping up the wild bachelor lifestyle — partying and visiting casinos every night on a recent five-day trip to Paris.
The ex-Arsenal captain was pictured cuddling up to two girls at a concert by rapper 50 Cent in the French capital last week. There was no sign of his wedding ring as he attended the marriage in the city of Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria and basketball’s Tony Parker.
Last night Henry, 29, confirmed his four-year marriage to English model Claire — mum to his two-year-old daughter Téa — is over.
A statement through his lawyers said: “Thierry is extremely saddened by the breakdown of his marriage.
“He is anxious to move on with his life and maintain the best possible relationship he can with Claire for the benefit of their daughter Téa, whom he loves very much.”
The statement added that the star’s move to Barcelona was “entirely for footballing reasons”. But, in a break with tradition in such matters, it did NOT state that no one else was involved in the break-up.
Celebrities are usually keen to stress that the split was not caused by adultery.
Earlier Henry told pals he quit London club Arsenal for Spanish giants Barca to get away from “everything English — including my wife”.
Bachelor boy ... grinning star cuddles up to two beauties at rapper 50 cents show in Paris
Bachelor boy ... grinning star cuddles up to two beauties at
rapper 50 Cent's show in Paris
He walked out on Claire, 27, and Téa just days after the move last month. It followed a series of rows and he has not been back since.
Henry, whose lightning feet shot him to fame as the Gunners’ all-time leading goal- scorer, told chums: “I didn’t really want to leave Arsenal — they’re my favourite club and I loved playing for them.
“But lots of things have changed recently and I had to get away from everything English, including my wife unfortunately.
“It’s a very sad time for all of us, but you’ve got to know when to move on.”
The France international spoke at Eva’s wedding, where he arrived without Claire — also known by her modelling name of Nicole Merry, and who starred with him in his famed Va Va Voom TV car ads.
Henry stayed alone in a Paris hotel for five days and was spotted out partying and visiting casinos every night.
Happy family ... with wife and Tea last year and, right, the happy couple five years ago
Happy family ... with wife and Tea last year
and, right, the happy couple five years ago
His pal said: “Thierry was acting like a single man, letting his hair down with the boys. Everyone realised something must be wrong.
“There was no sign of Nicole — even though she was a great friend of both Eva and Tony. It was late at night when he told us about wanting to leave England for personal reasons.
“We were all very sad because we love Thierry and Nicole. They were a wonderful couple.” The last straw between the pair is said to have been secret texts and pictures found by Claire on the footballer’s mobile phone.
But they are only part of the problem and the striker’s gallic temperament is believed to have triggered the split.
Another friend of the couple revealed: “Thierry is very opinionated, headstrong and very much his own man.
“He would probably admit himself that he can be a nightmare to live with.
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“He may have walked out, but Claire wasn’t running after him pleading with him to come back. A divorce is inevitable. It’s just a tragedy that a child is involved.” It is also understood that while Henry was keen to leave England for Spain, Croydon-born Claire preferred to remain close to her family.
Henry stormed out of the luxury family spread in Hampstead, North London, two weeks ago. He is spending most of his time around Barcelona, where he is set to pocket £128,000 a week.
One of the couple’s last public appearances together was at the French Open tennis championship last month.
But while Claire looked delighted to be there, sports fan Henry looked out of sorts. He and Claire had been dating in secret when he asked for her to be hired as his co- star in the Renault Clio ads.
They tied the knot in July 2003 at Highclere Castle, Berks, in a £40,000 extravaganza in front of 200 guests.
Henry comes from a broken home. Mum Maryles is divorced from his dad Antoine.
Darren Dein — Henry’s adviser and best man at his wedding — said last night: “To be honest, we don’t really comment on these things.”
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Originally Posted by Ephesians
. sorry for bursting your bubble
cause he's moving to your sworn enemy.
