If anyone is offended or upset by my decision, I apologise
JORDAN Henderson yesterday apologised to the LGBTQ+ fans hurt by his move to Saudi Arabia, adding he hopes to impress enough with Ajax to earn a call-up for England’s Euro 2024 squad after speaking with Gareth Southgate.
Henderson was unveiled at Ajax’s Johan Cruyff Arena in Amsterdam as he explained his U-turn, six months after leaving Liverpool for Al Ettifaq on a three-year deal. That move saw the 33-year-old midfielder, a champion of the LGBTQ+ community, accused of betrayal as same-sex relationships are illegal in Saudi Arabia.
‘If any people from that community feel let down or hurt I apologise,’ said Henderson, who was also given support by his former Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp yesterday. ‘If anyone was offended or feels as though I upset them, that’s on me, that was my decision and I apologise for that. It was never my intention.
‘I just want to look forward now and concentrate on being the best player I can for Ajax. My beliefs have never changed and never will. Again, I can only apologise if people feel let down.’
Henderson faced further criticism by those branding this an ‘if you were offended’ apology, though Ajax fans have welcomed him.
It was claimed yesterday that his is the fastest-selling shirt in the Dutch club’s history after Al Ettifaq agreed to terminate his contract to facilitate the move.
Ajax face RKC Waalwijk tomorrow but Henderson is unlikely to be eligible to play as he awaits international clearance.
He described this transfer as a ‘football decision’, adding: ‘The European Championship is always on my mind. I always have England in mind.
‘It’s a big thing to play for my country, always. I have to be doing it on the pitch for Ajax, that’s my new priority. If I am doing that then hopefully I’ll be called up to the England squad. I’m in contact with Gareth regularly as I have been for many years.’
Henderson was booed while playing for England following his move to Saudi Arabia and said: ‘I’m not going to sit here and say I haven’t been hurt but at the same time, I understand it.
‘I do care. People might think I don’t but I actually do care about other people.
‘I do think a lot about how I treat people. I have respect for people and it does hurt. I totally respect their opinion and how they view me as a person, so I had to take it on the chin.
‘I never tried to hurt anybody, it was never my intention. If people feel a type of way towards me, all I can do is apologise. I’ve never done anything to hurt anybody.’
Henderson refused to trash the Saudi Pro League yesterday, where he made 17 appearances, saying: ‘That’s not something I’m going to do. I have full respect for the league, for the club and for the people over there. They made me feel welcome but unfortunately sometimes these things don’t work out in football and life.
‘In life, if you want to call them regrets or mistakes, you call them that. But they’re only mistakes if you don’t learn from them. I learned a lot over there.
‘I haven’t got a bad word to say about anybody over there. I’ll have friends I’ll speak to for ever. There were positives to come out of it. In the end it didn’t turn out the way we both wanted it to but we ended it on great terms.’
Klopp defended his former captain. ‘I’m happy for him because it looks like he is happy,’ he said.
Meanwhile, Klopp hopes Mohamed Salah has escaped a serious injury after he limped off during the 2-2 draw with Ghana at the Africa Cup of Nations on Thursday night.
‘We don’t know anything,’ said Klopp. ‘I spoke with him last night. They are doing further assessments. At that moment it was a shock. He felt it and we know how rarely Mo goes off so there was something.’
Based on the outcome of an MRI scan and ultrasound, Liverpool may decide to send a club doctor out to Ivory Coast to assist with their talisman’s recovery.
Liverpool will also be without Dominik Szoboszlai and Trent
Alexander-Arnold for tomorrow’s trip to Bournemouth though the pair, along with long-term absentee Andy Robertson, are making good progress.
Andoni Iraola’s men have won seven and drawn one of their last 10 league games.
‘I have to admire what he (Iraola) is doing there,’ added Klopp. ‘Difficult start. They turned it around… wow. That’s real coaching.’
Klopp also said former England boss Sven Goran Eriksson is always welcome at Anfield, after the terminally ill Swede said his biggest regret in football is never managing his boyhood club Liverpool.
Eriksson is also expected to be invited to manage Liverpool in a charity ‘legends’ match against Ajax in March if he is well enough.
‘Absolutely he’s very welcome to come here and he can sit in my seat in my office and do my job for a day if he wants,’ said Klopp.