Henderson to Saudi!

Otto42 said:
I’ll be disappointed in him if he does go, not that it’ll bother him. Looks like the Saudi’s are getting ready to do to football what they did to golf. Sovereign wealth funds seem morally bankrupt to me, unless which I very much doubt, the dividends from lucrative investments are used to make the lives of ordinary people in these countries better. From my limited knowledge, Saudi Arabia is little short of the kind of absolute monarchy that the French threw out in 1789.
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Golf is very different. It's more like them buying clubs and then moving them to play in the Saudi league. People don't really tune in to watch players, they watch teams/competitions whereas with golf it feels like the competition isn't legit unless all the players are there. Nobody will really watch the Saudi league because nobody really cares who wins it. It's a nothing competition.
 
Nano said:
Golf is very different. It's more like them buying clubs and then moving them to play in the Saudi league. People don't really tune in to watch players, they watch teams/competitions whereas with golf it feels like the competition isn't legit unless all the players are there. Nobody will really watch the Saudi league because nobody really cares who wins it. It's a nothing competition.
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Exactly, there won't be a shortage of players clamouring to replace the few greedy sods who go and semi retire in Saudi.
 
Nano said:
Golf is very different. It's more like them buying clubs and then moving them to play in the Saudi league. People don't really tune in to watch players, they watch teams/competitions whereas with golf it feels like the competition isn't legit unless all the players are there. Nobody will really watch the Saudi league because nobody really cares who wins it. It's a nothing competition.
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You’re right of course for the older generation like myself, but the FIFA generation are into individual players.
 
The Card Cheat said:
A bit part player? He played 43 times for Liverpool last season. 9 times for England, including most games at the World Cup.
How do I know what his finances look like? They are a matter of public record. He currently makes 7.2 million pounds a year. He is already incredibly wealthy.
Your last statement is the only one which is even remotely accurate. Yes I would definitely turn it down.
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I said now. Him being first choice last season is why they struggled. He isn't going to get games at Liverpool his next move would probably be lower half prem team. At his age he may not want to scrap in a relegation battle.

Maybe he spent all his money on them new gnashers and needs the cash.
 
It’s tax free as well is it in Saudi?

I’m not saying they struggle but one of the very interesting things from the Secret Footballer books is how footballers don’t feel very rich, even though they are. Money has a habit of going out, and it’s a very short career which ends suddenly.

Remember here they’re taxed 50%. And will have an outrageous mortgage or rental bill on whatever ludicrous mansion they’re living in, plus the lifestyle taxes of cars, Instagram wives and funnelling away money through financial advisors in investments which may or may not come good.

Say Henderson was on £200k a week, that’s £100k a week before it’s even hit his bank. Then £20k a week mortgage on a nice 3 million pound mansion that he wants to pay off quickly, because he stops earning at 35. Then £5k finance on the Bentley, another £5k on the other cars, £5k into pensions, £10k towards investments, £1k per kid private school fees, £5k for every shopping trip to Alderley Edge Louis Vuitton…

There’s a reason why such a high percentage of footballers go bankrupt within a few years of retirement. They spend loads and for most of that time they’re young and stupid. It wouldn’t surprise me if despite the salary, someone like Henderson only has 5-10 mil in the bank. If going to Saudi can turn that into 30 mil, that’s a massive lifestyle difference for someone whose earning potential drops off a cliff, for life, at the age of 35 and has massive lifestyle costs.

Nice problem to have though!
 
Really don't get it, I know it's a massive amount of money but somethings are more important. Henderson was a massive advocate of lgtbq and he wore the rainbow armband. It's still illegal to be gay in Saudi Arabia, its still punishable by prison, its still punishable by lashing.
 
Why are we mixing the Saudi state with the Saudi football league? Does the pl have anything to do with the atrocities UK has commited over the years? 🤔
 
Zain said:
Why are we mixing the Saudi state with the Saudi football league? Does the pl have anything to do with the atrocities UK has commited over the years? 🤔
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Because the Saudi state controls the league and owns the four biggest teams in the league. And the other teams are owned by allies of the ruling family.
 
LaPennaBianca said:
Because the Saudi state controls the league and owns the four biggest teams in the league. And the other teams are owned by allies of the ruling family.
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And I'm sure many pl teams are owned by shady individuals or individuals that have done shady things at some point in time to reach their incredible wealth. Not really Henderson's or Ronaldo's or any individual playing in that league's problem 🤷‍♂️
 
Zain said:
And I'm sure many pl teams are owned by shady individuals or individuals that have done shady things at some point in time to reach their incredible wealth. Not really Henderson's or Ronaldo's or any individual playing in that league's problem 🤷‍♂️
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You can't move the goalposts. It was first about the state and now it's about shady individuals. There are no ethical billionaires, but they're who own football clubs. And their evils are different from a state regime that murders gay people, oppresses women and dismembers its critics. A state regime that is using football and footballers to launder it's reputation.

Just say with your chest you think it's fine that Ronaldo, Henderson et al are profiting from this.
 
Billy Horner said:
Do you think that Jeff Bezos, Elon Musk or Bill Gates would agree to live in Saudi Arabia for 2 years if the financial return to them was £70m? Would they consider it a life changing amount of money?

The sum being offered is always going to be assessed in the context of the individual’s own current financial position. I’m not sure what’s so difficult to grasp about that.
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It isn't difficult. but people are inferring that Henderson has enough money to avoid having to contort himself into the ethically compromised position he has. I think that's a fair inference. He doesn't look the type to have a gambling habit for instance. And it's not as if he'll completely stop earning either. Liverpool would undoubtedly have given him another contract as he's such an 'influential dressing room figure' etc.

He's definitely and permanently lost the right to make pronouncements from the moral high ground and his self-image may suffer as a result, even while his bank balance won't. Like the cricketers who went to South Africa, he'll have to live with himself.
 
He could give every single penny he earns out there to pro equality charities or whatever, but he'll still be participating in a pro Saudi PR project.

Just tell them to stick it.
 
B
Colgates_shaving_foam said:
I can promise that if I was already a muti multi millionaire I would definitely turn down a move to Saudi.

Why would anyone who didn't absolutely have to want to go and live in a medieval backwards society?

It's pure unadulterated greed that leads to footballers moving there. This is not some poor teesside O&G worker who feels like they have no choice but to go there.
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Him going there will earn him enough to support the next 4or5 generations of his family. For 2 years why not. He’s not going to play regularly at Liverpool this season, his body is also starting to fail him as well.
 
Jedi boro said:
This is why

www.sportspromedia.com

PIF takes ownership of four Saudi Pro League clubs as Aramco, Neom, Driyah Gate and Royal Commission for Al-Ula also buy in - SportsPro

The PIF, owners of Newcastle United, will buy a majority stake in Cristiano Ronaldo's Al Nassr and three other teams.
www.sportspromedia.com www.sportspromedia.com
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Henderson has been so vocal about rights, including LGBT+ rights in the past this is different to other footballers chasing the Saudi money.
Surely there must be a point where morals become above money, otherwise bribes are completely fine as long the money is high enough.
 
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