Liverpool Legend Makes Honest Confession About Ronaldo and Saudi Pro League After Leaving EPL

• Jordan Henderson has touted Cristiano Ronaldo's influence on his move to Saudi Arabia
• The 31-year-old left Liverpool to link up with fellow Reds legend Steven Gerrard at Al Ettifaq
• He will cross paths with Ronaldo on Friday when Al-Nassr hosts Ettifa in the Saudi League

Liverpool legend Jordan Henderson recently opened up about his transition to the Saudi Pro League, shedding light on the experience of leaving European football for the Middle East.

Henderson, an icon at Liverpool, made headlines by following in the footsteps of several Premier League stars, including Cristiano Ronaldo, and embarking on a new chapter at Al Ettifaq in Saudi Arabia.

According to GOAL, the 31-year-old bid farewell to his 12-year tenure at Liverpool to reunite with Steven Gerrard at Ettifaq in a significant transfer valued at £12 million ($15.4 million) plus add-ons.

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Henderson's spell in Saudi Arabia

Since his move to the Gulf region, the English midfielder has featured in 17 matches across various competitions. Despite not registering goals, the former Reds captain has contributed five crucial assists, according to Transfermarkt.

However, Henderson's venture into the Saudi top flight hasn't unfolded as anticipated, with The Commandos enduring a challenging run of form.

Their last seven outings have resulted in four draws and three losses, with their most recent victory dating back to October 28, a hard-fought 3-2 win against Al Wehda.

Henderson makes Ronaldo, Saudi confession

Reflecting on his Middle East sojourn, Henderson candidly shared insights, including thoughts on Ronaldo's influential role in the Saudi Arabian football landscape, where a surge of high-profile players is making their mark.

“I started watching Saudi League matches after the arrival of Cristiano Ronaldo," he said, as quoted by Cristiano Xtra.

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Jordan added, "Especially in the summer since Ronaldo joined, that have come to make the league better and try to improve it, and hopefully, that can continue.

"Since Cristiano came here, everybody took a bit more interest in seeing games.”

What's next for Henderson?

The hardworking midfielder will hope to help Ettifaq pull the breaks on their poor streak when they cross swords with Ronaldo's Al-Nassr on Friday, December 22.

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Ronaldo's Saudi League impact

In a previous publication, Sports Brief reported that the addition of Ronaldo to Al-Nassr has had a transformative effect. A fascinating trend has emerged, attracting a host of top-tier players to the Gulf State.

Fueled by enticing deals, the Saudi Arabian top flight has successfully attracted some of the world's finest players to Asia, the most populous continent on Earth.