Ajax fans supported Jordan Henderson at an open training session on Saturday, despite his recent demand to leave the club.
Last month, the 34-year-old refused to play for them again, seeking a move away from the Netherlands.
Henderson came under heavy fire from Dutch media critics and fans alike, with former Ajax player Wesley Sneijder telling him to ‘be a man and stand up’ to address the recent rumors.
However, Ajax fans showed out in full voice during their team’s open training session and were heard chanting Henderson’s name while the players clapped the fans in attendance at the end.
Henderson appeared on the verge of a move to Monaco before Ajax blocked the transfer, with manager Francesco Farioli seeing his skipper as a crucial piece in the Dutch giants’ push for Champions League football.
Henderson responded to this by issuing the club an ultimatum, with De Telegraaf claiming he demanded to be allowed to leave for free or he would not play for Ajax again, despite being under contract until 2026.
Rather than give in to his wishes, the hierarchy dug their feet in as technical director Alex Kroes and chief executive Meno Geelen informed him personally that Ajax would not sanction any move away before deadline day on Monday.
Farioli then stripped Henderson of the captaincy, just 30 minutes before the kick-off of Thursday’s Europa League clash with Galatasaray.
Henderson nevertheless went on to play 77 minutes in Amsterdam and after the final whistle, he was reported to have regretted his actions, speaking to Kroes inside the dressing room and vowing to finish the campaign with Ajax.
Sneijder urged Henderson to ‘get in front of the camera’ to address the rampant speculation.
‘Be a man and stand up,’ he said. ‘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. I don’t think UEFA has 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 answer. But I find it strange.
‘I think if you choose a different captain, you shouldn’t field Henderson either.’
After 12 years with Liverpool, Henderson has seen more lows than highs in his football ventures away from Merseyside.
He left the Reds in the summer of 2023 to link up with former team-mate Steven Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq, who the latter managed at the time, for a reported transfer fee of £ 12 million.
However, in January 2024, Henderson left after it was mutually agreed for his contract to be terminated.
Shortly after, he joined Ajax as a free agent after an unsuccessful tenure with the Saudi side.
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1 Comment
He didnt want to move. The club negotiated behind his back. THAT'S why he didnt want to pmay as Capt when hed just found out.
Ridiculous from Ajax and usual BS from ex players