Jordan Henderson DID move to Saudi Arabia 'for the money' insists Chris Sutton

Chris Sutton insists Jordan Henderson should have said his move to Saudi Arabia was money-motivated following a public backlash to his controversial interview.

The former Liverpool skipper broke his silence on his move to join Steven Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq, insisting that he had gone to 'grow the game' in Saudi Arabia and because his 'value had shifted' at Liverpool.

Henderson denied reports that he was earning as much as £700,000-per-week and that his intention 'was never to hurt anyone'.

The England international has been a vocal supporter for LGBTQ+ rights and his move to a country where homosexuality is criminalised has been condemned by gay-rights groups.

Sutton on Mail Sport's 'It's All Coming Up' - little brother of the weekly podcast 'It's All Kicking Off' - said Henderson will be 'burying his head in the sand' following the interview and questioned whether he could 'stomach the fight' against Liverpool's new summer signings.

He told Mail Sport's Ian Ladyman: 'So, you know he went off to Saudi for the money, didn't he? That's essentially it. I don't know why he just doesn't stick to that and just say that. And then I think everybody would understand it.

'You know, a couple of years ago had Jordan Henderson being questioned about the possibility of going to Saudi Arabia when the league was up and running, we know that he wouldn't have had any interest.

'The only interest going to Saudi Arabia is for people to earn huge amounts of money. And do you know what? That's OK. But just say it, you know, don't get involved in arguments about culture, you know, and other people are burying their heads in the sand.

'The only person who's burying the head somewhere is Jordan Henderson and that's somewhere which you know he shouldn't