Henry hanging in New York

When we asked him at today’s press conference, Henry was guarded. Maybe it’s because he was at a press conference talking about the club initiative partnered with Malaria No More. Or more likely it’s because it was a controlled environment and coach Joseph Guardilo was right next to him.

“Everyone knows I love New York. I come here quite often and I really enjoy the town. I have friends here and it’s always a town I enjoy to be in. Hopefully we’re going to have a good game on Wednesday,” said Henry, a noted Giants fan who said he was looking forward to playing on the same field the Super Bowl champs play on.

But he nodded toward Guardilo when asked specifically about forming an East Coast-West Coast rivalry with Becks.

“The coach is right here now. It’s not open for discussion right now,’’ Henry said. “Everybody knows (David Beckham) is playing here. But I have contract with Barcelona and so I’m going to respect it, and go all the way. I do have love for the town and that’s how it is, but it’s not up for discussion.’’

He’d been far more forthcoming on his last trip here, when he played a June 25 celebrity pickup game for charity that included Reyna and Juan Pablo Angel, whom he said yesterday was an old friend.

When asked outside a party following that game if he’d play for the Red Bulls, he said “Yeah, why not? I love America. I love it here. Whenever I come here I feel free. Hopefully one day. You never know what’s going to happen, but at the moment I’m still over there.’’

Juan Carlos Osorio has already submitted a list of Designated Player candidates to Austria, including a column of players he’d love just for their soccer prowess and another column who’d be huge draws at the gate and on the marketing front with their Q factor.

Henry seems to fit both criteri, named as one of the ten most marketable soccer players in the world.

Red Bulls’ sporting director Jeff Agoos, who’ll join coach Osorio in looking for Reyna’s Designated Player replacement, said little.

“Thierry Henry is under contract with FC Barcelona. We have not spoken to Thierry Henry or any of his representatives,’’ Agoos said. “We have stated that we are searching for candidates that would fit out Designated Player critera for 2009, but we are not going to speculate on who that might be.’’