Jordan Henderson and Sadio Mane were reunited for the first time in Saudi Arabia, where the two former Liverpool stars had a brief conversation.
The pair were crucial in Liverpool’s Champions League victory against Tottenham four years ago, and they also helped the Reds end their agonizing wait for their first Premier League title a year later.
Both, though, left European football this summer to pursue the mega-wealth on offer in the Saudi Pro League, as the Middle East continues to strive to woo Premier League players past and present.
Mane left Bayern Munich, where he had spent a dreadful year after leaving Liverpool, to join Al-Nassr, while Henderson became Steven Gerrard’s first English signing at Al-Ettifaq.
The pair had a happy reunion during a media event to mark the opening of the new Saudi Pro League season, and they reunited behind the scenes at the opulent location.
The joy on both players’ cheeks as they stood in their new team colors, Henderson and Mane clapping hands with one another, was palpable.
They then shared a long embrace, clearly relieved to see a familiar face in unfamiliar surroundings after previously sharing the Anfield dressing room.
After a brief exchange, both began smiling, and Mane moved in for another hug, with Henderson gently clapping his former teammate on the back.
The England international midfielder then asked Mane, ‘you good?’ before the short video abruptly ended as the two were given some solitude to catch up.
Fabinho is another ex-Liverpool player who has moved to Saudi Arabia after being transferred by the English club to Al-Ittihad for £40 million. He did not appear in Henderson and Mane’s reunion.
However, the eager partnership will soon be striving to outplay one another on the field when their new teams kick off the new season on Monday, August 14.
Henderson’s Al-Ettifaq will face an Al-Nassr squad that includes Cristiano Ronaldo at the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium in Gerrard’s first competitive match as manager.
Following an arrangement with DAZN to become the Saudi Pro League’s exclusive broadcaster, UK audiences will be able to watch the action unfold.
