‘I’m very much a Barca supporter. But…‘ — Thierry Henry gives surprising verdict on Real Madrid after 3-0 Man City win | OneFootball

FC Barcelona have already begun the knock-out part of their UEFA Champions League 2025-26 journey, as they faced the English side Newcastle United in the first leg of the Round of 16, which ended in a 1-1 draw in England.

Meanwhile, other teams have also played their first leg matches of this round, and in one such game, their traditional rivals, Real Madrid, faced another English side, Manchester City, coached by the former Blaugrana coach Pep Guardiola.

Going into the match, the English champions were widely considered the favourites, especially considering the injury problems affecting the Madrid side.

However, the Spanish giants delivered a stunning performance and secured a commanding 3-0 victory. The star of the night was Federico Valverde, who produced a remarkable hat trick to give his team a huge advantage heading into the second leg.

The unexpected result quickly attracted reactions across the football world, and one of the most notable voices praising the performance was former Barcelona striker Thierry Henry. Speaking on CBS Sports (via Mundo Deportivo), the French legend admitted that even he did not see such a result coming.

“I’m very much a Barça supporter. But you have to give Madrid a lot of credit. Nobody saw this coming. And nobody saw Valverde scoring a hat-trick. Anyone who says they knew Valverde would score a hat-trick is lying.”

Henry then added a humorous comment while talking about the aura of the Madrid shirt.

“I don’t know what that shirt has. I don’t know what they put in that shirt. I really don’t. Obviously, I’m joking with what I’m about to say, because I don’t want to wear that shirt. But maybe if I put it on, it might help me get my hair back.”

The Frenchman also spoke about the psychological weight of representing the Spanish club.

Henry’s words carry particular weight given his deep connection with Barcelona. The former French international spent three seasons at the club and was an important part of one of the most successful eras in the club’s history.

Thierry Henry played a key role in the legendary 2008-09 side that won the historic treble under Guardiola alongside players such as Lionel Messi and Samuel Eto’o. Because of that history, Henry has long been seen as a strong admirer of the Catalan club and its footballing philosophy.

For that reason, hearing him praise Barcelona’s biggest rivals so openly may not sit comfortably with some fans. Still, his comments reflect the reality of Madrid’s impressive performance on the night.

With the second legs of the Round of 16 still to be played, the Champions League remains wide open. Barcelona will aim to finish the job against Newcastle, while Madrid will try to protect their advantage against Manchester City as both Spanish sides look to continue their European journeys.