Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most influential players in soccer. The Portuguese superstar has single-handedly changed the landscape of Saudi Arabian soccer ever since he signed for Al Nassr. Not only did an influx of top-tier talent follow in his footsteps, but he also triggered a global surge in viewership. Among those who found themselves drawn to the allure of Saudi’s version of the beautiful game is Jordan Henderson, who credits CR7 as the reason he was familiarised with the league. 

In an interview, he said, “I started watching the Saudi League after the legend Cristiano Ronaldo joined.” Certainly, these words would be music to the ears of the mighty Ronaldo. Notably, the England international joined ‘The Knight of Ad-Dahna’ for $15 million this summer. He also reunited with his former Liverpool teammate, Georginio Wijnaldum, who came from PSG. The 33-year-old continues to help his side clinch the top spot in the league under the management of Steven Gerrard. However, Al Ettifaq currently sits in the 8th position after an underwhelming first half of the season.

Henderson has made 17 overall appearances so far and notched five assists. While it is a new experience for the midfield veteran in the Gulf Country, many aren’t impressed with his decision to move out of Europe. He was slammed by a former Liverpool skipper for his decision. 

Jordan Henderson’s Al Ettifaq move hasn’t sat well with a lot of people

Earlier, Jordan Henderson claimed his move to Al Ettifaq was not motivated by the money. However, England international and former Liverpool player Glen Johnson criticized Henderson’s comments, saying he was creating a false story. Speaking in an interview, Johnson said, “Bloody hell, of course. The money was a major factor.” 

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Glen Johnson claims that Henderson would have been playing somewhere else if he had gone just to play standard soccer. He drew a parallel with James Milner, who made a move to Brighton at the age of 37, a club which is known for its expansive style of soccer. “You can’t blame him for going. I do believe that money was a huge, huge motivator,” he concluded. Sadly, Henderson was even booed by his country fans during a friendly against Australia. It’s quite evident that not all are pleased with this decision.

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