Saudi Professional League chief government Michael Emenalo has admitted Jordan Henderson’s exit from Al Ettifaq was damaging for the midfielder “on a private degree”.
Henderson made the massively controversial swap to Saudi Arabia from Liverpool final summer season and was adamant about his ardour in the direction of the mission, solely to depart after simply six months to signal with Dutch giants Ajax.
Chatting with The Telegraph, Emenalo insisted Henderson’s exit was not a poor reflection on life in Saudi Arabia and revealed his efforts to try to persuade the previous Liverpool midfielder to remain.
“It wasn’t damaging in any respect for the league,” Emenalo defined. “It was damaging on a private degree as a result of that is somebody that all of us admired and we tried our absolute best to assist him adapt and to remain.
“However typically this stuff are simply past your personal wants and simply past skilled. Jordan did loads of good work right here, did loads of good work for Ettifaq and had inputs in concepts which have remodeled that membership and had a chance to know the nation and the tradition.
“When you ask him privately now, he’ll let you know that he had no points. However typically there’s a confluence of issues taking place that makes people decide that I believe is finest for them.
“I felt that may be a man who’s an ultra-professional and who had constructed a profession, an impressive, magnificent profession by way of changing into Liverpool captain, England captain and perhaps to, in his thoughts, he had an thought of how he wished to complete.
“And perhaps sooner or later in the middle of the season he simply felt that he’s not going to get that. That is one thing that it’s a must to respect and it is not one thing that I agree with as a result of I actually admire him and I had a one-on-one with him to attempt to [persuade him to stay].”
Regardless of insistence from England supervisor Gareth Southgate that Henderson would nonetheless get a good shot at representing his nation whereas enjoying out in Saudi Arabia, the 33-year-old grew involved about his worldwide future and pushed for an exit in January.
He joined Ajax on a free switch however managed simply 12 appearances in all competitions as accidents restricted his impression, and Henderson’s chaotic marketing campaign culminated within the information that he had not made England’s squad for Euro 2024.
Henderson wasted little time in admitting his transfer to Saudi Arabia was a “mistake”, insisting his want to play on a grander stage contributed to his determination to go away.
