Thierry Henry’s New York Red Bulls are not up for sale, according to the commissioner of Major League Soccer, Don Garber.
On Wednesday, Sports Illustrated reported that the club’s owner, the energy drink manufacturer Red Bull, was “losing interest” and that there was “zero chance” Henry would continue to play for the team next season.
In a statement released in response, Garber said: “I can absolutely assure you that the New York Red Bulls are not for sale.
“Both the owner and the management team in Austria and in New York are as committed as ever to Major League Soccer, the club and their fans.”
The Red Bulls, who play in Harrison, New Jersey, will soon face local competition from New York City FC, the 2015 MLS expansion franchise funded by Premier League team Manchester City and the New York Yankees, and which has signed the former Spain striker David Villa and former England midfielder Frank Lampard.
The Red Bulls’ two main stars are Henry, formerly a striker for Arsenal, Barcelona and France, and the Australian former Everton attacking midfielder Tim Cahill. The Sports Illustrated report, by Grant Wahl and citing “a source with knowledge of Red Bull’s plans”, said the club had not signed a third designated player because its owner’s investment had declined along with global profits.
On Thursday, the club issued its own statement, in which it said: “There are no plans to sell the New York Red Bulls.
“While interest in soccer continues to grow in the US and MLS continues to expand, Red Bull is confident now more than ever in the investment and committed to the franchise and its supporters.”
MLS is expanding by two teams in 2015, with Orlando City, who have made the former Brazil midfielder Kaká the highest-paid player in league history, joining New York. Atlanta will join in 2017; a Miami franchise backed by David Beckham is awaiting confirmation of its stadium plans.
Las Vegas, St Louis, Sacramento, Minneapolis and Austin are also seeking entry to the league.
The MLS place belonging to the struggling Chivas USA franchise, based in Los Angeles, is currently up for sale.
Red Bull also owns clubs in Germany (RB Leipzig), Austria (Red Bull Salzburg), Brazil (Red Bull Brasil) and Ghana (Red Bull Ghana).
The Sports Illustrated report said Henry, 36, would not sign an extension to his Red Bulls contract for next season, noting that did not mean he would necessarily retire. He joined the Red Bulls from Barcelona in 2010 and has scored 50 times in 119 regular-season games. This year he has played something of a supporting role to the English striker Bradley Wright-Phillips, formerly of Manchester City, Southampton, Plymouth Argyle and others, who has scored 24 league goals.
