18 July 2023 , 10:34
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Steve McManaman has advised Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson to think very carefully about accepting a move to Saudi Arabia.
Henderson, 33, has been offered an eye-watering £700,000-a-week salary to join Saudi Pro League outfit Al-Ettifaq, who are managed by Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard. It's believed the England international is considering accepting the huge pay day.
Liverpool are yet to accept a transfer offer from Al-Ettifaq, with Henderson taking part in their training camp in Germany. His team-mate Fabinho didn't make the trip, with the Reds discussing a £40million transfer with Saudi Pro League champions Al-Ittihad.
McManaman's advice comes after fellow Liverpool icon Robbie Fowler, who is the manager of Saudi second-tier club Al Qadsiah, urged Henderson to ignore the outrage over his proposed move to Al-Ettifaq. Fowler has told him to make a "personal choice".
McManaman believes Henderson's decision will come down to whether his family want to live in Saudi Arabia (or he is willing to move to Saudi Arabia without his family) and whether he's willing to risk his place in the England team.
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Henderson's hopes of making Gareth Southgate's squad hang in the balance even if he stays at Liverpool, such is the competition for places. Yet McManaman thinks the veteran's international career will be "finished" if he moves to Saudi Arabia.
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BANGKOK, THAILAND - DECEMBER 05: Robbie Fowler and Steve McManaman poses during the Global Legends Series match, at the SCG Stadium on December 5, 2014 in Bangkok, Thailand. (Photo by Thananuwat Srirasant/Getty Images) (Getty Images)"I believe Jordan will have to think about it, of course he will," McManaman told Betfred when asked about Henderson's offer. "He’s also a permanent fixture in the England team, so I presume he will have to give that up if he moves to Saudi Arabia.
"That’s another scenario he needs to think about and he’s also going to have to consider what the living conditions are going to be like for his family as well, which is a big issue really. Will he take his wife out there? Will he take his children out there?
"If you’re not going to do that and you go out there for two or three years, then it’s going to be an even tougher decision, so I’m sure there are many different factors weighing on his mind regarding whether he should go or not."
Yet Fowler sees things differently. The former England international wrote in his column for Mirror Football: "I’m not going to condemn Jordan, Steven Gerrard or anyone else who has gone to work in Saudi Arabia, or is thinking of doing so."
He added: "In the end, I think a lot of it boils down to people just slagging off footballers earning big money because they are footballers. It’s almost as if people from a certain background are not entitled to use their talent to earn big money."
Fowler continued: "I’m not defending anything or anyone, but this is a matter of personal choice. And as I’ve made clear, my personal choice is not about money, it’s about trying to get off my backside and prove myself as a coach."