Gary Lineker and Alan Shearer concur that former Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson would have been 'much better' off had he not denied financial motivations behind his move to Al-Ettifaq.
Lineker
"I'm huge admirer of his, his career and he's been an unbelievable footballer, but I did a similar thing -
"I moved abroad at the very end of my career just on a little jaunt to earn a few bob and to get a different experience.
"I think then that is semi-retirement and I don't think then you should play in international football
"When I made that decision, I withdrew from international football and to take the problem away from the manager at the time.
"I just think I'm not judging Jordan Henderson on whether he should do or should not do that, it's up to him and I know there are huge superstars who have done the same thing.
"But if you're [Cristiano] Ronaldo or [Lionel] Messi it's slightly different, you leave things up to them.
"I don't think a player, personally, if they're going to play in that thing where you're just doing it for a big payday at the end of your career, I don't think you should be playing for your country.
"Unless it was extreme circumstances or we had a dearth of talent, which we absolutely do not in the midfield area."
Shearer added
"That is one of our strongest positions with the talent in and around that area, I was really surprised that he played him the other day, particularly when we knew exactly how they were gonna play.
"We needed someone who could unlock the door, who can pick that little pass, when it's gonna be tight someone who can run. The Harry Kane pass for Kyle Walker's goal, we needed more of that.
"Jordan, that's not one of his strengths, so I was really surprised."
"Did you read his interview last week? We touched on it a couple of weeks back where we basically said the guys are going for the money..."
"Just say it," Lineker interrupted. "It's fine. You're protecting your family, your future, that's fine. But don't try and pretend otherwise, yeah?"
Shearer
"Absolutely,"
"And that's where all the criticism came from. You've got to try and understand it from his point of view as well maybe he's very reluctant to say it because it's maybe disrespecting his team or whatever - I don't know - but I think he would have been coming out of it much better by saying 'yeah, I'm doing for my family and their family, and so on, for the rest of their lives'.
I didn't agree with what he said. I'm a huge admirer of who he is and what he is, as I've said before, some of the work he's done - the great work he's done - he's had an unbelievable career. But I do think he should have come out and said 'I've gone for the money'."
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