'I do care' - Jordan Henderson defends decision to leave Liverpool for Al-Ettifaq and says he's 'really, really hurt' by criticism

Former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson has opened up on why he left the club to join Saudi Pro League side Al-Ettifaq.

WHAT HAPPENED? Henderson left the Reds this summer after spending 12 years at the club to join Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia in a deal worth £12 million ($15.4m) plus add-ons. The England international, who has always been a strong advocate of LGBTQ+ rights, received a lot of backlash from LGBTQ+ rights groups after his move to Saudi Arabia was confirmed.

Now Henderson has opened up on his transfer and says he has been hurt by the criticism he has received and that he does care about causes he has been involved with.

WHAT THEY SAID: «Every day. It was a difficult time, definitely. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t want people to feel sorry for me. It was just difficult to make that decision. I’d been at a club for so long, a club that I love and have a lot of respect for the fans, the owners, the manager, my teammates — to leave my teammates was a big thing,» he told The Athletic.

«But in the end, I felt as though it was the right thing for them as well. But from the outside and people who don’t know me, then it’s a lot more challenging to understand. There can be a lot of criticism, a lot of negativity around me as a person. And that was difficult to take. But I just feel as though, because I do care about different causes that I’ve been involved in and different communities… I do care. And for people to criticise and say that I’d turned my back on them really, really hurt me.»

THE BIGGER PICTURE: Henderson also spoke about ending his long-standing association and said Jurgen Klopp had made it clear he would have to accept a reduced role if he stayed on.

«There were a few things that sent alarm bells ringing. I’ve