He's not exactly tearing it up at Barcelona, but Thierry Henry's addition to Major League Soccer could only be a good thing for soccer in America, writes Martin Rogers of Yahoo Sports. The France international is unsettled in La Liga and could be poised for a move sooner rather than later, according to reports in the Spanish press. Henry has most frequently been linked with a move to MLS expansion club Seattle Sounders FC but won't even take to the field for the first time until March 2009, although his Barcelona contract runs through 2010. He has also repeatedly stated his desire to play in the United States, expressing a fondness for New York City in particular, which the New York Red Bulls will have noted.

If indeed MLS signs Henry, Rogers says it would be a "spectacular coup" for the league, though it would surely "attract as much criticism as praise" from those who feel that the Frenchman, at 30, is passed his best. They would point to his mediocre record at Barcelona, but Rogers notes that Henry has been playing out of position and is also battling chronic pain in his lower back. Surely, any MLS team would revolve its attack around Henry as a central striker, his preferred position. Finally, Rogers adds that if Barcelona thought highly enough of the Frenchman to offer him a lucrative and lengthy contract just one year ago, why shouldn't MLS step in and do the same?

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