​Under totally different circumstances, ​Arsenal legend Thierry Henry could have been the manager of ​FC Barcelona instead of MLS side Montreal Impact.


​Mundo Deportivo report that as Ernesto Valverde thought over signing a contract extension last season, directors at the Catalan club made contact with the Arsenal legend to discuss a sensational return to Spain in the event of Valverde passing up on a new deal.


Henry spent three seasons with the Catalan giants and ended up scoring 49 goals in a team featuring ​Ronaldinho and Lionel Messi.


However, at that time, Valverde signed a one-year extension at Barcelona and Henry's disastrously flop stint at Monaco saw the Frenchman pull out of the running. 




Henry lasted just three months at Monaco, winning five matches in 20 games on his return to his boyhood club as management, but he is now back in management, moving to MLS side Montreal. 


Meanwhile, Valverde's Barcelona are top of a tight La Liga table despite a weird start to the season. The Catalans have suffered losses to Levante and Granada, but still lead Real Madrid on goal difference.


For Henry, the MLS season starts again in February and Henry has been brought in with plenty of time to prepare his squad which features former Barcelona man Bojan Krkic and former Arsenal full-back Bacary Sagna.