Thierry Henry believes he has become a stranger in his own land despite being one of the greatest players ever to represent France.
The 28-year-old Arsenal skipper is one of the most recognisable figures in world football and is a regular international but he believes the years he has spent abroad, firstly for a few months in Italy with Juventus and then seven trophy-laden seasons at Arsenal, mean the French people do not have an accurate view of him.
They only see the intense and often angry figure on the pitch and not the laid-back character off it, who is familiar in Britain for his advertising endorsements.
Speaking at the launch of the latest of those, having joined sports brand Reebok, he said: 'I don't have any problems with the way I am perceived here but I do in France because they don't know me really because I left the country early.
'They don't know that off the pitch I am never serious, I am always joking. I know it is difficult to believe because when I see myself on the pitch I can't believe how serious I look. But that's the way I am and I will never change.
'Off the pitch I am not the same guy you see on the pitch. I am chilled and laid-back. It must be my West Indian roots.'
Henry admitted claims that he could be arrogant did have a sound basis. He said: 'In the game you need a bit of arrogance. I have never been scared of saying that I am confident of my abilities. Some people have a problem about saying that but I know what I am good at and what I am not good at.'
Just hours after Arsenal's Champions League final defeat by Barcelona at the end of last season, Henry ended months of speculation that he would move to the Nou Camp by pledging his future to the Gunners by agreeing a new four-year deal.
Henry revealed his association with the English capital was likely to be an even more lengthy one as he intended to remain in London once his playing career was over.
He said: 'London is my home. I love London and I will never leave here whatever happens. I am proud of it. It is never easy for someone from abroad to come and be accepted.'
Henry's wife Nicole is English - the pair met filming an advert - and the couple have a one-year-old daughter Tea. The Frenchman hopes she will grow up bilingual but admitted his forgetfulness was hampering that already.
He said: 'Stupidly instead of speaking French to her I have been speaking English. I now think in English and sometimes forget my French words.'
