When money talks, all of the morals that football players espouse that they stand by goes out of the window, and that certainly appears to be the case for Liverpool captain, Jordan Henderson.
With only a month to go until the start of the new Premier League season, and with the Reds already back in pre-season training, it appears that the England international is leaning towards accepting a move to the Saudi Pro League.
According to David Ornstein of The Athletic (subscription required), a decision from the player is expected imminently, which would then lead to talks between Steven Gerrard’s Al Ettifaq and Liverpool.
The former Reds legend is believed to be the driving force behind trying to persuade the 33-year-old that his immediate future lies in the Saudi Pro League, where it’s believed Henderson will quadruple his wages.
According to Capology, he currently earns a not insignificant £140,000 per week.
Given how the player has always been a voice in support of LGBTQ rights, and as the picture above shows he has been happy to wear a rainbow captain’s armband, that he would be willing to go to a league that outlaws homosexuality for the promise of riches beyond his wildest dreams leaves football fans questioning his morals, and whether he actually had any genuine support for the cause in the first place.
For Jurgen Klopp it’s a headache he can surely do without, and the wider picture is that the Premier League will now absolutely realise that they’ve got a fight on their hands to ensure that their brand remains front and centre over the next few seasons.
Footballers haven’t had morals for over 30 years, so to single out a player is laughable. First, there is nothing but hear say, second, there is nothing hypocritical about it, he’s playing football, end of.
The third and final point, is a journalist talking about morals beggars believe , if ever a profession that would sell it’s own mother for a story, journalists are up there with politicians.
Talk about desperate.
@shaun 100 % my bro well said .
It’s disgusting, if hendo chooses to do this. Bobby and Gerrad have both gone down in my opinion. Sell outs who bow down to money. Look at the disgusting human rights record of Saudi, Hendo is supposed to be a role model and advocate for equality at the club and he chooses to wash all that away in the name of money and closing his eyes to the blood and pain split?
And to top it all off, it looks like he isn’t going anyway… just sad reporting.
It never ceases to amaze me what absolute drivel gets published. Jason Pettigrove only exposes himself, his extreme lack of character and morals with this nonsensical rubbish of an article that serves no purpose but to divide and cause dissent, with absolutely nothing substantial to back it.
Agree with every word, it’s the guys living for goodness sake. He has a wife and family to care for once he has finished playing.
I totally agree with you Shaun. He will still be a legend in my eyes. No footballer in their right mind would turn down earning £700K per week at the age of 33 yrs. Good luck to him. He,s been a vg Captain for LFC and I wish him and his family well. YNWA.
Firstly the journalist who wrote this article is not going to Saudi and journalists in general are not going to Saudi. It is also the case that most footballers are not going to Saudi, so please let’s not generalise this to excuse the individual …Thats like saying don’t pick on the axe murderer because most men are capable of it..An individuals responsibility cannot be removed by saying its OK because most are like that.. If Wearing an LGBTQ armband and supporting LGBTQ rights is then followed by going to Saudi to earn bag loads of money is not blatent hypocrisy, then I really don’t what is..
Agreed. It is greed. He is on good money already. This is shut up, be quiet money, if he bites.
Morals in football? Bar a very few like Klopp it’s a moral vacuum.
If somebody offered to quadruple my wages with only 2-3 years left I’d snub it aswell NOT
Where does morals come into this argument? If you showed me one person who would not change jobs if they was offered 4 times their current salary then they would either be a liar or an idiot. Football is a business for all parties and if the boot was on the other foot then the club would sell him tomorrow. Good luck to him, after a shaky start he has served the club well and is clearly moving down the pecking order.
Henderson has become a liability of late. His departure will only be felt off the pitch in the dressing up to be precise. He has caused some goals against LFC last season.There are players who can be leaders and play well as well. So LFC should let him leave.There is nothing that he can offer.If it was Kante the departure could be felt.Please Henderson leave.You are a liability.
Harsh words’ just remember what this man has given to our club’ still has a lot to offer’ but if Jordan decides to go the best of luck to him.
I adore Hendo as a Liverpool fan. I remember people saying “ why “ when we signed him.I fought his corner on numerous occasions. He’s 33 won’t get an extension now at Liverpool and has brought a lot to the club with both his leadership and tenacity. I wouldn’t hold anything against him wanting one big payday now. Just hope LFC benefit greatly from the deal as he’s still Club captain of a top club. As for morals who wouldn’t take a pay raise of this sort of money we’ve all worked for someone we don’t like over the years to make a better wage.
It’s good for Premier League clubs that they can get some money back for their ageing players.
Goodbye Henderson
I do not think his form or dressing room image that we should be measuring , it is purely as a person his character his beliefs, his anti racism, his equal rights, his working class roots, his family, everything he has stood up before. That’s why Steven Gerard is no longer an icon in my eyes, he is a scouser by birth only. These guys earn more in one year than working class Liverpool people earn n a lifetime. I hope these guys that go to Saudi remember where they come from. At the end of the day you can have all the money in the world but unless you go to Eton or Cambridge , you will never be let in to the elite.
JH has given his all for the club since he has arrived. In all honesty, what he achieved for LFC is beyond anything we can envision when he signed. If the Saudis are offering him 700k / week, I’d say he deserves it. The man got to retire some day and take care of his family too.
That’s true
The man is worth at least £25m, I don’t think he needs to worry about looking after his family.
Get some money and get someone with fresh legs.
And thank him for all he’s contributedt LFC
Any footballer of his age would have to be mentally ill to turn down that kind of money tax free.
F right off you sanctimonious prick…like anyone in their right mind wouldn’t accept that much money to play football. Get another job because accusing him of having no morals is just sensationalist crap.
I wonder what the bible says about homosexuality
Did he actually say he is happy to wear the homosexuality arm band? Hendo has served us will for 10 years, its ok for him to consider leaving and preparing for his family financially.
Hendo should leave if it is true they will increase his salary by that much! He is almost at the end of his career and needs to make his “pension” while he can! He has served Liverpool well but his time with the Reds is surely coming to an end!
he needs to go and we need to spend the money on thuram or someone?? what are the complaints about?? his legs have gone and he needs a zimmerframe ?? thank him and thank you al ettifaq??? wth
Ha! Go for it Henderson yr last lap. Liverpool will be free to purchase our future young midfielders. Hope next one will be Thiago. We will be free to get 2 young midfielders n a young defender.
This suit to A ‘T’ according how Liverpool’s management work. Never in debt as club need to be financially sound!
Was stevie G. Vilified when he left then went to LAGalaxcy .Hendo has since he took the arm band,he has lifted more trophies than a lot of other captains he has done a lot for the Club.lf he stays will he be treated the same ,with some Liverpool fans yes.will he be given extra years on his contract.?if he goes let him go with the same farewell we gave to some f the bed warmers we have had in the last few years.
I guess dis journo is part of the LGBT community, won’t u take a pay raise in a job you are aware ur days are numbered? Didn’t the European countries and USA teams who are the champions of LGBT played in the World Cup? The fact they back down on their use of the LGBT arm bound as a result of the threat to av their Captains suspended means all dis are just lips service and nothing more.
The E PL started with the big wages now someone else can pay better they are crying about it good luck to Henderson and anyone else getting that kind of money at the back end of their career’s we would all do the same no matter our job to triple your wages for same job no brained.
Whys everything gotta be about gay people! It’s football! He’s coming to the end of his career! Why shouldn’t he make as much money as he can! Not everything is about gay people! Get a life!
It is not that the Saudi league is against homosexuality it is simply that the league plays in Saudi Arabia. The law of Saudi Arabia is the Holy Quran. The Holy Quran explicitly bans and will not tolerate homosexuality.
All Muslim countries must obey the religion of Islam.
The Henderson saga is turning out to be as pivotal as the argument around vaccines, in that it expertly highlights the selfish, bigoted and morally bankrupt attitudes present amongst the majority in our society. I despise the hard Left activist mouthpieces who push their latest identitarian trend down everybody’s throats, but by the same token, as a bisexual man I take serious issue with the treatment of homosexuals in the Middle East. It is for this reason I refused to watch the last World Cup, will not pay for or watch any boxing event hosted by the Saudi’s, and have petitioned my club, Arsenal, to terminate their sponsorship with Emirates Airlines. I will also never watch a match from the Saudi league, no matter what players they put on their bankroll – it’s called voting with your feet.
I understand Muslim players from the PL and elsewhere taking up the offer to be closer to their religious heartland, but anyone else who previously tied their LGBT colours to the mast in the name of virtue signalling to their football governing body, is a hypocrite and a stooge. This is all deeply troubling. The wide-ranging support amongst fans for Henderson making the move, demonstrates an alarming dismissal of gay rights and equality. It appears we aren’t as far down the road of acceptance as we thought.