Abraham P. Romero
Updated Thursday, January 18, 2024-18:35
The blank check that
Saudi Arabia
put on the table of dozens of footballers last summer has ended up filling the pockets of many players with millions and regrets.
Some still do not dare to make it public, caged in a contract that will change their personal lives and close football doors for them.
But others are beginning to realize their mistake.
The first was
Jordan Henderson ,
Liverpool
captain
who in the summer decided to leave
Anfield Road
and sign for Saudi side
Al Ettifaq
.
Six months after a move that surprised the Reds' fans and conditioned part of
Jurgen Klopp
's team's season , the English midfielder has broken his contract with the team led by
Steven Gerrard
and has sought a return to European football.
The reason?
Henderson, undisputed in Liverpool and the
English national team
, has observed how several teammates have competed with him in the British team and his place on
Gareth Southgate
's squad list for the European Championship next June is not guaranteed.
.
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Henderson started one of the two games of the last national team break in November, where he was
booed by the English fans themselves
, but the break in the Saudi league for the
Asian Cup
, the low attendance at the games and the
low level
of the competition beyond four or five teams made things complicated for the tournament.
Furthermore, the national issue, criticized by fans of the team he theoretically captains, has also weighed on his decision.
In this way, Henderson,
33 years old
, has renounced the
36 million
contract that bound him to the Saudi team for the next two seasons and is now in
Amsterdam
to sign with
Ajax
, which assures him presence in a European league and participation in the
Conference League
, where the Dutch team is one of the favorites for the title.
Rumors with Benzema
Henderson has opened the door to a situation that can be repeated in the coming weeks, especially in players who see their position in the next European Championship in danger.
Karim Benzema
is not thinking about the tournament, but he also has problems with his club,
Al Ittihad
.
The fans of the
Jeddah
team blame the Frenchman for the club's poor position in the table, where he is seventh, far behind
Cristiano
's
Al Nassr
, leader at 15 points.
Benzema has also been the protagonist of several controversies.
First with the former coach of Al Ittihad Nuno Espíritu Santo, and now with the current one, the Argentine
Marcelo Gallardo
, who has left him out of the preparation trip to Dubai for not going to the sports city when required.
Benzema excused himself by saying that a cyclone prevented him from leaving the
Mauritius Islands
, but the rumors began to grow and some media saw him again in Europe.
He is even speculated in England with a possible arrival at
Chelsea
.
In his case, he would have to give up a lot more money than Henderson.