It just won't go away, will it? The debate that raised its head again this week about who is the better striker, Thierry Henry or Ruud Van Nistelrooy. Regular followers on givemefootball will know that over the past year or so I have given the edge, ever so slightly, to the Dutch master, although the margin is now so narrow as to be down to personal hunch or gut feeling.
Well, it seems that I am, unwittingly, in august company, as the debate seems to be raging with financial ferocity through the hallowed halls of the Estadio Santiago Bernabea, the home of Real Madrid.
It kind of reminds you of the kid at your school who wanted every new toy or gizmo as soon as it hit the market, and had the parents to indulge his every whim. So, it would seem then, that is the case at Real Madrid where the club has set its sights on acquiring either the Arsenal man or his Manchester United contemporary.
Apparently the club president, Florentino Perez, wants to add Thierry Henry to his stable of expensive and talented world stars while sporting director, Jorge Valdano, prefers the Dutchman. DECISIONS, DECISIONS, it's almost as bad as being Roman Abramovich, or maybe not, but that is another story.
Valdano, an Argentinian who won a World Cup winners' medal in 1986, is impressed by the rugged van Nistelrooy. whereas his president prefers the rapier Henry to the sabre of the Dutch international.
Manchester United were quick to 'head off at the pass' any attempts to prise van Nistelrooy from OT with a rapid movement of new contract talks to the head of the agenda but one crucial point, hidden well down the thousands of column words, that makes a move for Henry more likely than 'Van the man' is that rarely used word that defines a quality that is sadly lacking in the modern world, LOYALTY.
When van Nistelrooy was rebuilding his career, as well as his knee, following the collapse of both his joint and the move to Old Trafford, Sir Alex Ferguson stood by his transfer target and promised him that when he was fit again the move would be back on. Ruud is an honourable man and that above any financial reward will be what keeps him at Old Trafford, until at least he feels he has repaid the debt he obviously owes Fergie.
Thierry Henry is another matter entirely, while not suggesting for a minute that he is any less honourable than van Nistelrooy. At the moment, without any recourse to world and European awards he may pick up in the next few weeks, Thierry is hot property and the transfer fee he may take to Highbury, as Arsenal consider the financial repercussions of a move to their proposed new ground, would lighten the fiscal load considerably and the matter might be taken out of Arsene Wenger's hands by the powers that be in the 'marble halls'.
Ruud or Thierry, what a dilemma. Short term I reckon both players will stay where they are or at least until one of them picks up a Champions League winners' medal. Both players, and their respective teams, are playing well enough in the competition to be optimistic that such a medal could come their way come May. So it looks as if Real Madrid will have to make do with Ronaldo, Raul, Zidane, Figo etc. Shame.
WHAT DO YOU THINK? Is Van your man, or is Thierry the tops? Will they stay with their current clubs, or will the lure of Spain be too much? Send your views to editor@givemefootball.com
