Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson is considering leaving Anfield. AFP Photo
Paul Kennedy
If Jordan Henderson decides this week to leave Liverpool FC and play for his old Anfield teammate Steven Gerrard in Saudi Arabia, he can do so with his head held high.
There has been much talk over the past 24 hours that the Liverpool captain is seriously considering signing for Al-Ettifaq, who recently appointed Gerrard as coach.
From a fan’s perspective, I don’t want him to leave. I like Henderson and think he’s the type of player supporters notice more when he’s not playing.
Last season, Liverpool looked weaker when he wasn’t on the pitch. Henderson is a grafter. He does the hard work with little fuss. He’s also a leader, and proved to be a fantastic captain for Liverpool. Also, you could argue, one of their most successful.
As captain, he’s picked up just about every trophy he could get his hands on, and he’s led Liverpool to three Champions League finals.
Not bad for a player who struggled when he first signed for the Reds.
Some Liverpool fans, probably myself included, were not convinced when he joined the club from Sunderland in 2011.
He took a while to find his feet. And, according to reports, was very close to leaving in 2012 when then manager Brendan Rogers wanted to ship him off to Fulham.
Henderson said no, knuckled down, and went on to prove the doubters wrong.
It’s no secret he’s going to find it tough at Anfield to hold down a regular place in Liverpool’s midfield, especially since Jurgen Klopp signed Alexis Mac Allister from Brighton and Hungary star Dominik Sbozoszlai this summer and he also played Alexander-Arnold in that position towards the end of last season.
Henderson will probably find himself as a bit-part player. A Mr Reliable the team can count on in case of injuries in key areas.
A little bit like the role James Milner played for the past few years before he left for pastures new at Brighton.
There’s also another very good reason Henderson might be considering heading to the Middle East – the money.
Reports suggest he’s being offered somewhere in the region of US$910,000 a week. Let me say that again, slower. Nine hundred… And ten…. Thousand dollars…. A week.
That’s insane money. Just a few million short of $50 million a year.
He’s 33, fit, and clearly looks after himself. He’s good enough to play at the highest levels still, and if he does decide to move to Saudi, it shouldn’t hinder his international career.
It also is a huge statement that shows the Saudi’s really do mean business. Yes, some decent players have moved there, Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema to name a few, but players with few other options, and certainly players you would describe as on the last legs of their careers.
Henderson still has a lot to offer, any club.
But if he does decide to go, I for one will wish him nothing but the best. He’s led Liverpool well and will always be remembered as captain fantastic. VNS
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