31 August 2023 , 21:30
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Gareth Southgate defended Jordan Henderson's decision to go to Saudi Arabia - but insisted he would never quit the England job to take their millions.
Southgate seemed genuinely taken aback at the level of criticism and questions about Henderson, 33, who has gone from an LGBTQ campaigner to moving to a country where it is illegal to be gay. Henderson has kept his place in the England squad despite leaving Liverpool to join Al-Ettifaq, which will threaten his place in the long term because of the standard of football in the Saudi Pro League.
But it remains the most controversial move of the summer, as Henderson wore a rainbow armband and was such a big supporter of the LGBTQ community ahead of the World Cup in Qatar. However, Southgate said football was put under too much "scrutiny" when the British Government does deals with Saudi Arabia.
But Southgate said he would never consider copying Roberto Mancini, who quit his job as Italy boss to take over as Saudi Arabia coach or even Don Revie who famously walked out on England to manage United Arab Emirates.
Southgate said: "I’m not looking to leave the job I’m in. I’m very happy. I certainly wouldn’t leave managing my country during my contract. I find the area really complicated because we have a lot of trade with Saudi Arabia. We buy oil from Saudi Arabia, there's Saudi Arabian investment across a lot of British industries and I don't see any protests against any of that.
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"So, it does feel to me as if the involvement with Newcastle, the decision for Jordan to go there, get a different level of scrutiny to everything else. I don’t really know what the morality argument is because so many of our industries are wrapped up with Saudi investment. Given the situation with Russia we are reliant on Saudi Arabia for a lot of our oil.
"They’re invested in so many British industries but I don’t hear any noises about that. It’s only the football that’s highlighted. The LGBT plus stance is a religious belief in that country."
It does seem as surprising that Henderson has yet to talk about his transfer that Southgate has not seen any of the protests or questions in Parliament when the Government do trade deals with Saudi Arabia. However, Southgate did admit that Henderson rang him before making the switch and it was clear the former Liverpool captain had been told he would not play much this season if he stayed at Anfield.
Southgate did suggest that scouting and picking Henderson could be difficult because of the standard of the Saudi Pro League and it seems highly unlikely that the midfielder is to make next summer's Euros.
Southgate added: "Obviously there is a lot of money within Saudi Arabia that is being paid, none of us are going to avoid that because it’s the obvious. But his prospects of playing at Liverpool were probably a big factor in that becoming more attractive than it might have been in the past.
Jordan Henderson left Liverpool to play in Saudi Arabia (Essa Doubisi/Getty)What do you make of Gareth Southgate's decision to select Jordan Henderson? Let us know in the comments below!
"We have watched every game he’s played there, the key as we move forward is the physical intensity of the league, because of the heat as well, whether that will allow him to perform at the level we need, that is a huge consideration.
"Lots of other countries will have this issue, Portugal have a few players there, others do, I am sure they are going to play international football. Hendo has to assess where he sits against other members of our squad and map him against them, not playing Champions League or Premier League football."
Southgate did provide good news for one new call-up in Arsenal's Eddie Nketiah who will get his chance in the double header after his impressive form. Southgate added: "We want to have a look at him, young player with a lot of pedigree, really good finisher and the record goalscorer in the Under 21s.”
Goalkeepers: Sam Johnstone (Crystal Palace), Jordan Pickford (Everton), Aaron Ramsdale (Arsenal)
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Defenders: Ben Chilwell (Chelsea), Levi Colwill (Chelsea), Lewis Dunk (Brighton), Marc Guehi (Crystal Palace), Harry Maguire (Manchester United), Fikayo Tomori (AC Milan), Kieran Trippier (Newcastle), Kyle Walker (Manchester City)
Midfielders: Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool), Jude Bellingham (Real Madrid), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Jordan Henderson (Al-Ettifaq), Kalvin Phillips (Manchester City), Declan Rice (Arsenal)
Forwards: Eberechi Eze (Crystal Palace), Phil Foden (Manchester City), Jack Grealish (Manchester City), Harry Kane (Bayern Munich), James Maddison (Tottenham), Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal), Marcus Rashford (Manchester United), Bukayo Saka (Arsenal), Callum Wilson (Newcastle)