Catalonia is not Spain, says Henry

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MADRID, Feb 27, 2009 (AFP) - Barcelona's French international striker Thierry Henry waded into the sensitive debate over regionalism in Spain, saying in an interview published on Friday that the separatist-minded northeastern region of Catalonia was "not Spain".

The 32-year-old, who joined the Catalan club from English Premiership side Arsenal in June 2007, also told daily newspaper La Vanguardia that he would like to end his career at the Spanish league leaders.

"What I think is this, Catalonia is not Spain, it is something else, it is something you must feel," he said in Spanish when asked about his initial difficulties in adapting to the club.

"Barcelona is another story. When you arrive here from Arsenal, you are surprised to see so many people. It is a shock. You have to live it to understand it," he said.

Barcelona is the capital of the wealthy northeastern region of Catalonia, which is home to about seven million of Spain's 46 million inhabitants.

A sizeable minority in Catalonia would like to see the region, which already enjoys considerable autonomy, achieve independence from Spain and Henry's comments are bound to anger supporters of a strong central Spanish state.

Asked if he would like to end his career at Barcelona, Henry said: "Of course I would like that. I have always said it but I have the impression that sometimes I am not listened to."

"I love this city, it is February, and look at the sun. No matter how hard last year was, people in the streets always supported me. Here we live well, we eat well. We are one of the three or four best clubs in the world. It is normal that I want to end here," he said.

Henry struggled to find his form during his first season at Barcelona but appears to have hit his stride this season.

He scored Barcelona's goal in the club's 1-1 draw at seven-time French champions Lyon in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie on Tuesday.