Jurgen Klopp confirmed that Jordan Henderson left Liverpool for Al-Ettifaq because he was not needed at the Premier League club.
Henderson recently shared that he chose to join Saudi Arabia because he wanted to feel appreciated and valued, rather than solely chasing a bigger paycheck. Klopp confirmed that Henderson’s concern about not being assured a starting position played a significant role in his decision to leave.
“Hendo said the truth. That’s how it was. We had talks, I told him I wanted him to stay but we talked about maybe not playing regularly,” Klopp said at a press conference.”
“I cannot tell a player they can have 50 games because I don’t know that. In our relationship, I thought it was important we speak about ‘what happens if’. Hendo, I love him but he was not great when they didn’t play, [James] Milner and Lucas [Leiva] were the same. So we talk about that now.”
“So, in Hendo’s ears and mind, he thought I didn’t want him there. If I said Hendo would be the main man for me he would stay but I couldn’t. That’s why it’s better he moved on. Not a bit of bad blood. Captain of best Liverpool team in the Premier League era.”
Henderson has faced criticism for joining Al-Ettifaq because of his support for LGBTQ+ rights. He admits that money was a factor, but believes that his move to Saudi Arabia could have a positive impact.
“I think people know what my views and values were before I left and still do now. And I think having someone with those views and values in Saudi Arabia is only a positive thing,” he said. “Not once have they said: ‘You can do this, you can’t do this’. And I think it can only be a positive thing to try to open up like around Qatar. In the end, around Qatar, having a World Cup there shined a light on certain issues where I think in the end, I might be wrong, but they changed some rules and regulations to be able to host the World Cup and I think that’s positive.”
Liverpool’s team will play against Wolves in the Premier League this Saturday, while Henderson and Al-Ettifaq will face Abha in the Saudi Pro League.
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