'Be a man' - Jordan Henderson called out by Dutch football icon amid exit talk

The ex-Liverpool captain is trying to force a move away from the Dutch giants amid reports that he's agreed to join Monaco.

As speculation swirls over his future, Henderson was stripped of his captaincy by Ajax boss Francesco Farioli just hours before their Europa League victory over Galatasaray.

This came on a day in which his relationship with the club soured significantly.

According to Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, Henderson requested on Thursday that he be allowed to move to the French side on a free transfer.

That's despite having a contract that doesn't expire until 2026.

READ MORE ON FOOTBALL

Jordan Henderson on the verge of leaving Ajax for Champions League club

Jordan Henderson responds to Sunderland transfer talk amid Ajax exit rumours

The report then states that Henderson issued the club with an ultimatum - let him go for free or he'll refuse to play for the club again.

With a crucial clash with rivals Feyenoord coming up on Sunday, Farioli decided to punish the midfielder by stripping him of the captaincy.

While Henderson was named in the starting XI for the Galatasaray game, it was Remko Pasveer who took the armband.

Henderson played 77 minutes before being substituted at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

Most read in Football

Wrexham set to complete club-record signing as they beat Championship clubs to forward

Alvaro Morata close to eighth big-money transfer with £169m already spent on striker

Al Nassr's attempted Premier League raid continues as Brighton reject big-money bid

Major questions over Manchester United's £2billion Old Trafford project emerge

Reflecting on the fallout, Sneijder was discussing Henderson's future when he told him to 'be a man' and 'get in front of the camera' to address his future.

Ziggo Sport presenter Helene Hendriks told Sneijder and former Netherlands footballer Frank De Boer that they had asked Henderson or Ajax technical director Alex Kroes to address the situation.

De Boer responded: "Henderson doesn't have to appear in front of the camera before the match. He can just concentrate on the match and then appear in front of the camera.

"I understand Pasveer. He has to do it, but this is nonsense. Henderson has other things on his mind and doesn't feel like responding."

While Sneijder said: "Don't be so difficult. You just play that match with the armband on and then you say, 'Yeah guys, I don't know yet.

"Something is going on. We'll see what happens tomorrow.

"Be a man and stand up. Right now you get all this speculation and you create unrest. It could have been much calmer if he had just worn the [captain's] armband."

Sneijder added: "I find it very strange. I don't think UEFA had even figured it out yet.

"So there must have been some kind of switch at the last moment. That does raise questions.

"I don't know if we'll hear an explanation from Farioli, because he probably won't give an answer. But I find it strange.

"I think: if you choose a different captain, you shouldn't field Henderson either."

After a hugely successful career with Liverpool, Henderson completed a move to Saudi Arabia in the summer of 2023 as he joined Al Ettifaq.

But just six months later he left Saudi and returned to Europe with Ajax.

But things haven't exactly gone to plan for Henderson in Amsterdam despite Ajax's return to form.

Andy Goldstein and Darren Bent react to 'embarrassing' viral clip of Jordan Henderson celebrating winning throw-in for Ajax

The former Sunderland ace has not always found game time easy to come by and was dropped for an Eredivisie fixture shortly after his arrival at the club.

Henderson was also involved in a heated bust up with teammate Bertrand Traore in a Europa League tie earlier this season.

Read More on talkSPORT

Israel Adesanya sends message to Mohamed Salah after Liverpool star uses celebration again

'I warned her' - McCoist had simple advice for Laura Woods before she gave birth

With just a few days left of the transfer window it remains to be seen what the future holds for Henderson.

But with Ajax's season hanging in the balance, it seems that they will have a big decision to make.