Pundit implies that Jordan Henderson should not have allowed Sadio Mane to leave

Pundit Jamie O’Hara has hinted that Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson should have done more to keep Sadio Mane at Anfield.

The winger has signed for Bayern Munich ahead of the 2022-23 campaign. Mane still had one year left on his Liverpool contract, but he reportedly wanted a bumper pay rise. The club weren't willing to give the Senegal international what he wanted.

Despite that being the case, O'Hara recently implied Henderson should have convinced Mane to remain at Liverpool.

“I am amazed that they have allowed him to leave,” he told Sky Sports News, as quoted by HITC. “He is still an unbelievable player. He is still one of the best players in the world.

“I can’t believe they didn’t think about giving him the money that he deserves. When you are a top player and you are seeing players on £300k and £400k-a-week, even with those astronomical fees, Mane deserves to be on that money as well.

“If they aren’t going to pay him the money, then somebody else will. So, he needs to know his worth. Getting into his 30s, so it’s one more big contract for him. I think it’s a massive loss for Liverpool. He is almost irreplaceable. I know they have brought in (Dawin) Nunez. I think it’s a mistake Liverpool have let him go.

“I would be saying ‘Mane we need you’. We have been so successful, missed out on the quad last season, but they have to go again. If I was Jordan Henderson, then I would have been desperate to keep him at the football club. But when a player has had his head turned, and he doesn’t feel his valued enough, then it’s hard to stop someone from leaving.”

Anfield Watch Verdict

At the end of the day, Mane wanted to leave Liverpool. There was not much Henderson could have done.

The England international does not control how much a player earns.

On another note, Henderson has been a fine ambassador for the club. He has led the team onto the field since 2015.

But, Henderson's work behind the scenes is even more impressive. Back in June 2021, he was awarded an MBE for services to charity.