Jordan Henderson has been stripped of the Ajax captain’s armband amid his attempts to force a move away from the Dutch club.
The former Liverpool midfielder was relieved of his duties as skipper for the Europa League match against Galatasaray after expressing his desire to transfer to Monaco.
Despite being given the green light by club officials to play Henderson, coach Francesco Faroili opted to hand the captain’s armband to goalkeeper Remko Pasveer for the evening.
Henderson, who is currently the highest-paid player in Holland with a weekly wage of £90,000, played for 75 minutes before succumbing to cramp.
His relationship with Ajax has deteriorated following his request to be released from his contract, which runs until summer 2026, in order to pursue Champions League football with Monaco.
However, Ajax were shocked by his request and relayed to him that they have no plans to let him go just a year after rescuing him from Al-Ettifaq following his unsuccessful stint in the Saudi Pro League.
Despite initial struggles with form and fitness, Henderson has become a key player for Ajax this season. The former England midfielder has made 43 appearances and provided eight assists. Ajax have stated they will consider his request to leave in the summer, but by then, the opportunity to join Monaco may have passed.
Henderson declined an interview on Dutch television following the game, leading stand-in captain Pasveer to confirm: “Jordan was on the team sheet as captain, but he had external factors influencing him.”
Ex-Dutch star Wesley Sneijder commented on the tense situation, expressing concerns by saying: “There is a lot happening behind the scenes. I fear this may be Henderson’s last match after all.”
This original article appeared on The Mirror.
