Jamie Carragher’s pledge for Saudi Pro League after Gerrard & Henderson moves

Jamie Carragher, the former Liverpool captain, has recently shared his thoughts on the Saudi Pro League after witnessing both Steven Gerrard and Jordan Henderson make their moves to the Middle East. With Henderson’s departure from Liverpool, ending a 12-year successful journey with the club and joining Al Ettifaq for a £12 million fee, Carragher discussed the implications of such moves in his column for The Telegraph.

Notably, the Saudi side faced controversy when they edited out Henderson’s rainbow armband, which was worn in support of the LGBT+ community, from the official announcement. This sparked widespread criticism, raising concerns about the league’s stance on important social issues.

The decision of both Gerrard and Henderson to accept lucrative contracts in the SPL, with Henderson reportedly earning £700,000-a-week, drew criticism from many, leading some to accuse Carragher of “hypocrisy” for supporting his former colleagues’ choices. Rio Ferdinand also took a dig at Carragher, leading to an online exchange between the two.

Carragher, however, defended his position, asserting that he wouldn’t accept a substantial salary increase to cover football in Saudi Arabia if such an offer were presented to him. He expressed his passion for analyzing and watching the best football in the world, which he believes is currently found in the Premier League and Champions League. His enthusiasm would not be the same if he were to commentate on a league with players past their prime and lacking history or tradition.

As Henderson officially sealed his three-year deal with Al Ettifaq, Liverpool players conveyed emotional messages to their departing captain, with manager Jurgen Klopp sending a special video tribute, hailing Henderson as a “legend.”

In an unexpected move, Henderson will don the No.10 shirt for his new team. Al Ittifaq, who finished seventh in the league last season with an average attendance of 5,561, will be eager to make the most of their new signings, including Moussa Dembele and Jack Hendry.

While the choices of Gerrard and Henderson have generated significant interest and debate, Carragher made it clear that he speaks only for himself and not as a spokesperson for his respected former teammates. The footballing world continues to watch how these moves will unfold in the Saudi Pro League, while Carragher remains steadfast in his devotion to the Premier League and Champions League as the pinnacle of world football.