UEFA chief Aleksander Ceferin threw shade at Jordan Henderson after his big-money move to Saudi Arabia last summer.
Jordan Henderson had joined Steven Gerrard’s Al-Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League signing a lucrative three-year contract.
His time in the Middle East was cut short however after growing frustrations over the weather and football prospects according to reports.
HITC Football had revealed that the 33-year-old later agreed terms with record Dutch champions Ajax to make his grandiose return to European football.
In a recent interview with The Telegraph, UEFA’s Aleksander Ceferin talked about players moving to Saudi Arabia and took a dig at Henderson for previously claiming his objective was to inspire change.
Henderson criticised again
“I’m not worried at all,” Ceferin said when asked about the impact of star players leaving Europe.
“Because European football has so strong roots. This is part of our culture, of our history. You cannot buy this. You cannot.”
“They go because the contracts are big. And I don’t blame them for that. If they are close to the end of their career, maybe it’s a new adventure and they earn a lot of money.
“I don’t want to blame them or something like that. But to say that you are going somewhere to help, it’s more or less a joke.”
The Englishman now faces a tough task of helping Ajax turn their form around after their worst-ever start in the Eredivisie.
Ajax are currently three points adrift of AZ Alkmaar in fifth place and face Heracles next away from home on Saturday where Henderson could make his debut for the club.
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