Choose Saudi Arabia
'It's hard to sum up my 12 years at Liverpool in just one word, and it's even harder to say goodbye to this team.' On July 26, 2023, captain Jordan Henderson, who has been with Liverpool for 12 years, accepted Saudi football's "grand plan". It's hard to say what kind of thoughts both sides had when this 12-year relationship came to an end. But when the separation becomes an established fact, there will be some unbearable feelings brewing on either side.
But he is not alone, because there is his old captain Gerard there. It was under Gerrard's call that Henderson finally unloaded his heavy psychological baggage, bid farewell to the highly competitive Premier League, and came to the "booming" Saudi league.
"The Saudi league has an exciting and ambitious plan and it is an honour to be part of this huge project. I love football, so I want to go to different places to spread the word about the sport. I know that the Saudis love football too. Hopefully I can grow with the Saudi league. "Henderson is a way to express his determination and will, and he, like other stars who have come to Saudi Arabia, is here just because their football program is attractive enough, they are just a group of footballers who love football and have a lot of love in their hearts, and there is no other reason for him.
Five months later, the remnants of this vow are still alive, but he is at odds with everything here. The weather is too dry, the drinking water is too astringent, and people don't pay attention to hygiene...... Everywhere he looked, he was "bored". Henderson couldn't help but ask himself, "Shouldn't I have come at all?"
Flee the Saudis
According to the British media "The Telegraph", Jordan Henderson, who left Liverpool last summer to join the Saudi Arabian team Dammam Cooperation, has already had the idea of returning to Europe after playing in the Saudi league for less than half a year. In the early days of the franchise, Dammam Collaboration made great progress, with only 1 loss in 7 games. However, as the schedule continues, Gerrard's team has struggled to find a win in the past two months. Gerrard was in a deep crisis of leaving class, and Henderson gradually began to complain about the hot Saudi weather, the bad home atmosphere, the maverick Saudi culture and even the Saudi food Xi.
Return to Europe
He has already contacted Premier League sides through his agent and hopes to use Kane's influence in the Bundesliga to introduce himself to Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen. To date, there has been no substantial feedback from Premier League and Bundesliga teams.
There has been media speculation that Celtic are the most likely end up for Henderson, but his £350,000-a-week salary could be an insurmountable obstacle. In terms of Dammam, they will not let go of Henderson easily, and they can only accept the possibility of loan him out at best, and once Henderson leaves, Gerrard's position will be even more precarious.
butterfly effect
Coincidentally, Henderson is by no means the first player to escape Saudi Arabia, with Roberto Firmino, Karim Benzema and Jota all making various attempts to escape Saudi Arabia and return to Europe. Roberto Firmino recently returned to Anfield for a documentary shoot, but he made a detour to Fulham.
Jota is also actively in contact with Tottenham in an attempt to renew his mentorship with Postecoglou. And Benzema, who was praised by the Saudis as a "VIP" and "did not contribute to the work", was ignored.
Now that the winter window has arrived, the Saudis are once again waving their money bags around Europe. What hasn't changed is that their football program is still grandiose, ambitious and glittering. What remains unchanged is that there will continue to be European stars who are being questioned by their souls in front of "future" and "money". What has changed is that Saudi Arabia's golden dollar football concept is ushering in the first wave of "returns".
#Headline Creation Challenge##Seeing the World##Benzema##Firmino##Liverpool##凯恩#
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