Afghanistan
Angola
Argentina
Asia (AFC)
Asian Games
Australia
Belgium-Netherlands
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Central American & Caribbean Games
Central American Games
Congo DR
Denmark
England
Europe (UEFA)
FYR Macedonia
Finland
Germany
Greece
International Tournaments
Italy
Mediterranean Games
Mexico
National
Nepal
North & Central America (Concacaf)
Palestine
Pan American Games
Panama
Russia
Scandinavia
Serbia And Montenegro
South American Games
Spain
Syria
USA
World (FIFA)
Yemen
Zimbabwe

Simon Jordan rips into Jordan Henderson for insisting Saudi move wasn't money motivated

talksport.com, 5 September 2023, 13:37
Simon Jordan has torn into Jordan Henderson over the former Liverpool captain's defence of his Saudi Arabia move.

The talkSPORT host has dismissed the midfielder's insistence that his controversial move to the Middle East was not motivated by money.

The 33-year-old joined Steven Gerrard's Al Ettifaq in the summer after 492 appearances with the Reds.

Henderson, who was an ally of the LGBTQ+ community when at Anfield, faced a backlash given homosexuality is illegal in Saudi Arabia.

Many accused the England international of aiding Saudi in their attempt at sportswashing their human rights record.

Speaking to The Athletic, Henderson denied the claims he is earning £700,000-a-week at Al Ettifaq and insisted money was 'never mentioned' in his discussions with Gerrard or the club.

read more on simon jordan

Simon Jordan slams Sancho and backs ten Hag in their heated public row

'I'm not a clickbait merchant' - Simon Jordan responds to Chris Eubank Jr 'scumbag' remark

"People will see this club come with loads of money and he's just gone, 'Yeah, I'm going.' When in reality that just wasn't the case at all," said the ex-Liverpool skipper who also opened up about the reasons behind his Anfield exit.

"In my life and my career, money has never been a motivation. Ever. Don't get me wrong, when you move, the business deal has to be tight.

`"You have to have financials, you have to feel wanted, you have to feel valued. And money is a part of that."

Henderson added: "Stevie [Gerrard] never mentioned money. Everything I spoke to Stevie about was football and the project.

Most read in Football

World record Salah bid, Henderson defends Saudi move, Guardiola considered for England job

Joe Worrall pays tribute to 'hero' uncle who died trying to save the life of another

Henderson recalls 'alarm bell' moment after Klopp conversation that ended Liverpool career

Ex-Man United boss Van Gaal makes shock claim about Messi's World Cup triumph

"And he actually said he didn't want to get involved in any of the money stuff. It was all about what we could do together to achieve something special and build a club and build the league."

talkSPORT host Simon Jordan has since ripped into Henderson, who is on international duty with England, following his comments.

"It is ridiculous for him to say in an all-straight face perspective that he has not gone to Saudi for the money.

"I don't care whether he has gone for the money or not. The bottom line is, that is what he has gone for.

"The same reason Phil Mickelson went to play on the LIV Golf tour and give us all this load of old pony, of diversity and inclusion, and bringing forward a society, that in some ways wasn't where it needed to be.

"With all those things in mind, Jordan Henderson can't get past the inevitable.

"I would rather him say one of the driving factors was the money. That is disingenuous and people will look at that and say 'don't be so bloody stupid'.

"You're an international footballer, playing for Liverpool, going to a league that has enormous amounts of money attached to it.

"I don't blame him for going for an enormous amount of money for whatever age he is.

"If someone is foolhardy enough to pay him four, five, six, seven hundred thousand pounds a week, then that is on them.

"Let's not dress it up into what it isn't, it is predominantly a money transaction, it is not the same accusation I made of Kieran Trippier.

"I still maintain if it was not a significant amount of money, he [Trippier] would not have gone and signed for Newcastle if Mike Ashley was in charge.

"I think this is very thought through, and chapeau to his [Henderson's] PR team, because when you're preparing for these interviews, you know what is coming your way and what is your outcome.

"When people are saying 'you hypocrite, you made a song and dance of wanting to be supportive of certain communities, and you went to a country which has no support for these countries whatsoever, you're a mercenary, you're only going for money' - what would be the best answer to this question? Because we are caught in a cleft position.

"He [Henderson] has been briefed, he is a parrot, I would imagine him sat wondering how he dresses it up.

"Why have I gone to Saudi? I have had the potential opportunity to stay in the English Premier League, I still would have been earning a kings fortune.

"I am going to Saudi that has an average attendance of 6,000 fans, in a country that is not the most hospitable to the communities I support.

Read More on talkSPORT

Man arrested for alleged headbutt at Roy Keane during Arsenal clash against United

Smith's career is over after Eubank Jr KO and boxing fans were conned, says Froch

"I know, I build up a narrative around, that these contributed factors, which in part may form a slight consideration.

"Jordan, if you were getting the same dough at Liverpool, would you be as equally as motivated to go to these countries, and grow the sport? No he wouldn't."

Top News

15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Brighton & Hove Albion have confirmed the appointment of Fabian Hurzeler as their new head coach. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The Premier League is widely regarded as the best division in world football that has been blessed with a plethora of talent players and successful managers. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Poland will be looking to end a 45-year streak when they square off against Netherlands on Sunday afternoon. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa have reportedly been in discussions with Chelsea over a potential deal for Ian Maatsen during this summer's transfer window. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Lamine Yamal has become the youngest-ever player to feature in the finals of a European Championship at the age of 16 years and 338 days old. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are allegedly willing to let one of their most important players leave the club during this summer's transfer window if a suitable offer arrives. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Switzerland survived a late Hungary scare to triumph 3-1 in their opening Euro 2024 Group A contest in Cologne. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Argentina has confirmed that Brighton & Hove Albion defender Valentin Barco is one of three players omitted from Lionel Scaloni's final Copa America squad. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have contacted Premier League rivals Chelsea regarding the potential signing of 21-year-old Levi Colwill this summer, according to a report. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City will reject any offers for striker Julian Alvarez this summer amid ongoing interest from several big clubs across Europe including Chelsea, according to a report. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have apparently taken the first step towards their maiden summer signing by making contact with Premier League rivals Everton over a deal for a £50m-rated midfielder. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal are eyeing a move for highly-rated Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams in this summer's transfer window, according to a report. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Belgium are expected to line up in a 3-4-2-1 formation against Slovakia on Monday, with the Red Devils bidding to make the perfect start to their Euro 2024 campaign. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Slovakia's squad for Euro 2024 is headlined by Milan Skriniar, and the Paris Saint-Germain defender is in line to win his 69th cap for his national side in their campaign opener against Belgium. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk France manager Didier Deschamps is reportedly considering making a U-turn on a key Euro 2024 selection decision involving Arsenal centre-back William Saliba. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Belgium and Slovakia will get their respective Euro 2024 Group E campaigns underway on Monday evening with an intriguing match-up at the Frankfurt Arena. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Germany trio Julian Nagelsmann, Ilkay Gundogan and Niclas Fullkrug all hailed Die Mannschaft's exceptional performance after the Euro 2024 hosts kicked off their bid for glory with a record-breaking 5-1 crushing of Scotland in Group A. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Former Manchester United captain Roy Keane tore Andrew Robertson apart after Scotland began their Euro 2024 campaign with an embarrassing 5-1 loss at the hands of hosts Germany. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Newcastle United have reportedly made contact with the representatives of AC Milan defender Fikayo Tomori to discuss a possible move to St James' Park during this summer's transfer window. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Former Arsenal and Everton striker Kevin Campbell has died at the age of 54 following a short illness. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have apparently taken the first step towards bolstering their ranks for the 2024-25 season, as a report from the Liverpool Echo claims that contact has been made over a move for Everton's Amadou Onana. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Steve Clarke expects his Scotland side to show that they are "better than that" after losing 5-1 to Germany on Friday night. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Back at a major tournament after eight years of waiting, Romania get their Euro 2024 campaign under way on Monday afternoon, when they meet Ukraine in Munich. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Quarter-finalists three years ago, Ukraine kick off their Euro 2024 campaign on Monday afternoon, when they meet Group E rivals Romania in Munich. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk With the waiting finally over, Group E rivals Romania and Ukraine will kick off their Euro 2024 campaigns on Monday afternoon in Munich. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Championship outfit Millwall have announced the tragic death of goalkeeper Matija Sarkic at the age of just 26. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk France attacker Kylian Mbappe has seemingly emerged unscathed from an injury scare as Les Bleus prepare to tackle Austria in their Euro 2024 Group D opener in Dusseldorf on Monday. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Austria head coach Ralf Rangnick must work around the absence of three serious knee victims for Das Team's Euro 2024 run, which begins on Monday against France in Group D. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The Merkur Spiel-Arena in Dusseldorf is the venue for Monday's closing Euro 2024 contest, as in-form Austria and title favourites France pit their wits against one another in Group D. 15 June 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Germany began their quest to win an unprecedented fourth continental title in emphatic fashion as they put Scotland to the sword 5-1 in Friday's Euro 2024 opener at the Allianz Arena.