Jordan Henderson has insisted he would not try to discourage Mohamed Salah from moving to the Saudi Pro League, despite his own swift exit.
Former Liverpool captain Henderson has called time on his Al-Ettifaq stay just six months after he decided to leave the Reds for Saudi Arabia. It is reported the 33-year-old found it difficult to adjust to both the climate and the lifestyle, as well as being disheartened by the dwindling attendances inside the grounds.
Henderson opted to leave the Saudi outfit so soon after swapping Merseyside for the Middle East and has since joined Dutch giants Ajax. The England international was so keen to leave Al-Ettifaq, he was willing to walk away from £4million in wages.
Henderson deferred his wages to make his exit is easier, meaning he won’t actually pocket the £2m he’d have earned so far, due to tax reasons. In light of this, many would assume that Henderson would advise others to steer clear, but that does not seem to be the case.
During his unveiling in Amsterdam as Ajax’s newest recruit, the midfielder was asked if he would advise former Liverpool team-mate Salah to avoid setting up shop in the Saudi Pro League. Henderson’s response was eye-opening.
He explained: “No definitely not. Everyone is different. Big players are there now loving every second of it. You might get others that don’t settle or something happens in their private life.
“Things change quickly. I wouldn’t speak badly of the league or the clubs or anything like that. I have full respect for the opportunity I was given to go there.”
Salah has found himself the subject of speculation suggesting he could follow Henderson’s lead. A number of Saudi Pro League outfits are believed to be willing to spend an eye-watering amount to try and bring one of the Premier League’s most lethal marksmen to the Middle East.
Henderson continued by insisting his move to Al-Ettifaq back in July stemmed from a simple desire to raise the quality of the division. He added: “I went there with the full commitment of trying to help the league, and the club I was at, Steven Gerrard and my team-mates.
“That’s what I did for six months. Things can change in football. An opportunity like this doesn’t come around very often. I will eat, sleep and breathe Ajax to make this club better.”
The England international joins the Eredivisie titans on a two-and-a-half year deal, set to expire in the summer of 2026.
