Before departing for Saudi Arabia in the summer, Jordan Henderson stated he was “hurt” that he was unable to “say goodbye properly” to Liverpool supporters.
After a 12-year stint with the Reds, the midfielder departed the team to join Al Ettifaq, a decision that received criticism from some for him moving to a country with strict anti-homosexuality legislation.
In an enlightening interview with The Athletic, the 33-year-old today discussed his reasons for leaving Merseyside and joining Steven Gerrard’s team in Dammam.
When asked by Adam Crafton if he would be worried about the response if he went back to Anfield, Henderson replied, “To be honest, Adam, I believe a lot of the negative reaction is on social media and in the media, which I don’t get involved with.
“Everyone I’ve encountered in the neighborhood has wished me luck. supporters of Liverpool, too. For twelve years, I devoted my entire life to the club. I bombarded them with everything. And I would do everything over again if I could. They are probably aware of that and appreciative of it.
I wouldn’t be concerned if I were given the chance or permitted to say goodbye again. I’ll admit that I’m a little disappointed that I was unable to say goodbye to the fans in a dignified way.
Henderson responded, “No,” when asked if a testimonial at Anfield was in the plans. But if I had the chance, I think it would be decent and kind of me to do something, whether it was to offer a recommendation or just go back and say “bye,” since that does hurt.
Henderson laments not receiving the same thundering applause when leaving Liverpool as Bobby Firmino, for instance, but the reality is that the midfielder hurt many people who had previously viewed him as a hero.
The 33-year-old has irreparably lost the trust of many of his former supporters as a result of his relocation to Saudi Arabia. He was a passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, therefore the community would have expected to him to use his public platform to speak out on their behalf.
Such achievements would ordinarily merit a testimonial, particularly in light of all he accomplished for the Reds during his twelve years at Anfield, including leading the team to numerous major awards, participating in nearly 500 games, and establishing a fund among Premier League colleagues to assist frontline workers during the COVID pandemic in 2020.
The moment may come when Liverpool decides to honor Henderson in that fashion, but it doesn’t seem likely that there will be a formal farewell anytime soon considering the extraordinary nature of his relocation to the Middle East and the natural uproar it generated.
Many Reds fans would likely be hesitant to give him a recommendation right now, despite the fact that he has made contributions on the field. Later, perhaps when he decides to retire from playing, he might get one.
