Aston Villa veteran Robert Pires is approaching D-day about his future after revealing he has received a call from Thierry Henry asking to join him at New York Red Bulls.
Pires arrived on a short-term deal last September and has scheduled a meeting with recovering manager Gerard Houllier to discuss if he still has a part to play at the club.
The 37-year-old midfielder’s prospects of earning a new deal seem extremely slim given the uncertainty surrounding Houllier and Villa’s need to reduce their wage bill.
But Pires insists it is courteous to speak to Villa at the end of the season before considering any alternative offers to prolong his glittering playing career.
And the Arsenal legend revealed he has received a tentative phone-call from fellow former Gunners favourite Henry about joining him in the Major League Soccer .
“Thierry has phoned me,” said Pires. “He called me up and said ‘come over and play with me’ but there are no real offers yet.
“For the moment there is nothing else, because the league is not finished. I will wait until it is finished. I am relaxed about it. I still feel fit enough to play.”
Since his disappointing debut against Arsenal, Pires has made just three further starts for Villa, against Blackburn in the league and FA Cup and at Sheffield United in the cup.
The French World Cup 1998 winner has also made seven substitute appearances and will soon discover if that is a sufficient contribution for him to be offered new terms.
