- Jordan Henderson has been accused of trying to force through the move
- Ajax have stood firm and punished the midfielder by removing the armband
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Jordan Henderson has been told to ‘be a man’ and front up over his bid to leave Ajax after he was stripped of the captaincy for trying to force through a move away.
Henderson, 34, was punished by boss Francesco Farioli ahead of his side’s victory over Galatasaray in the Europa League last night, having reportedly issued the club with an ultimatum after agreeing a deal to join Monaco.
According to De Telegraaf, he told Ajax that he must be allowed to leave for free or he would not play for them again, despite being under contract until 2026.
Rather than give in to his wishes, however, the hierarchy dug their feet in and removed the armband from Henderson just hours before yesterday’s match.
Henderson was named in the starting XI regardless and played 77 minutes before being substituted, but goalkeeper Remko Pasveer skippered the side instead.
Reacting to the public fallout live on TV last night, Wesley Sneijder urged Henderson to ‘get in front of the camera’ to address the rampant speculation.
Jordan Henderson has been told to ‘be a man’ after being stripped of the Ajax captaincy
Henderson started against Galatasaray despite reports he has tried to force a move away
Dutch legend Wesley Sneijder (right) believes the midfielder must publicly address the row
Ziggo Sport presenter Helene Hendriks told Sneijder and fellow guest Frank de Boer that Henderson and Ajax technical director Alex Kroes were asked for an interview.
‘Henderson doesn’t have to appear in front of the camera before the match. He can just concentrate on the match and then appear in front of the camera,’ De Boer said.
‘I understand Pasveer. He has to do it, but this is nonsense. Henderson has other things on his mind and doesn’t feel like responding.’
Sneijder then responded: ‘Don’t be so difficult. You just play that match with the armband on and then you say, “Yeah guys, I don’t know yet.”
‘Something is going on. We’ll see what happens tomorrow.
‘Be a man and stand up. Right now you get all this speculation and you create unrest. It could have been much calmer if he had just worn the armband.’
‘I find it very strange,’ Sneijder added. ‘I don’t think UEFA had even figured it out yet.
‘So there must have been some kind of switch at the last moment. That does raise questions. I don’t know if we’ll hear an explanation from Francesco Farioli, because he probably won’t give an answer. But I find it strange.
Henderson is said to have told Ajax to let him go or he would not play for the club again
But the hierarchy have dug their heels in and are refusing to allow him to leave for nothing
Henderson has reportedly agreed a deal with Monaco, who are currently third in Ligue 1
‘I think if you choose a different captain, you shouldn’t field Henderson either.’
Henderson enjoyed a trophy-laden 12-year spell at Liverpool, winning both the Premier League and the Champions League as club captain, before completing a move to Al-Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia in the summer of 2023.
But just six months later, he sealed a return to Europe with Ajax.
He has made 44 appearances for the club to date, scoring no goals, and was handed the captain’s armband just a matter of weeks after joining.
