'Alex Ferguson should apologise to Jordan Henderson - his remark could've been damaging'

Manchester United Sir Alex Ferguson shared his crushed for not signing Jordan Henderson, who went connected to triumph the Premier League and Champions League arsenic Liverpool captain

Sir Alex Ferguson was told to apologise to Liverpool icon Jordan Henderson aft revealing his crushed for snubbing the midfielder.

The legendary Manchester United brag had kept an oculus connected Henderson arsenic helium roseate done the ranks astatine Sunderland. Under the tutelage of United leader Steve Bruce, Henderson’s performances caught the oculus of Ferguson, arsenic good arsenic his club’s bitter rivals Liverpool.

The 20-year-old starlet yet headed to Merseyside successful 2011, where, aft a hard start, helium would go Steven Gerrard's successor arsenic Liverpool captain. Henderson led the Reds to Premier League and Champions League glory, winning 7 large honours during his 12-year stint astatine the club.

While the erstwhile Reds skipper volition person nary regrets astir signing for Liverpool, the aforesaid whitethorn not use to Ferguson’s crushed for turning him down astatine Old Trafford. In his 2013 autobiography, the 13-time Premier League victor confessed that helium steered wide of Henderson aft spotting an antithetic contented with the midfielder.

"We looked astatine Jordan Henderson a batch and Steve Bruce was unfailingly enthusiastic astir him,” Ferguson explained. “Against that, we noticed that Henderson runs from his knees, with a consecutive back, portion the modern footballer runs from his hips. We thought his gait mightiness origin him problems aboriginal successful his career."

Those comments drew the ire of ex-Liverpool brag Brendan Rodgers, who took offence connected Henderson’s behalf. The 23-year-old midfielder had managed conscionable 16 league starts the erstwhile play and often recovered himself successful the firing enactment during his archetypal fewer years astatine Anfield.

"I deliberation if Sir Alex ever bumps into Jordan helium mightiness privation to apologise for that,” Rodgers said. “The remark amazed me, I person to beryllium honest, coming from idiosyncratic with specified presumption successful the game. Maybe it was meant arsenic flippant but to a young subordinate making his mode successful the crippled it could beryllium damaging.

"Every subordinate is different, and each subordinate astatine this nine has had his strengths and weaknesses medically assessed. The connection successful presumption of Jordan was inappropriate."

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Ferguson’s autobiography was published successful October 2013 and Henderson became a captious portion of the Liverpool broadside that came agonisingly adjacent to winning the league that season. However, Henderson’s emergence arsenic a cardinal subordinate was not fuelled by wanting to beryllium United wrong. Instead, the ex-England prima chose to presumption Feruson’s excavation arsenic a positive.

"What was written successful the publication ne'er bothered me," Henderson told the Liverpool Echo successful 2014. "To beryllium honest, I looked upon it arsenic a compliment that I got a mention. The information Alex Ferguson was watching maine astatine immoderate signifier indispensable person meant I was doing thing right.

"I was ne'er alert of immoderate involvement from United and I'm blessed with however things worked out. I'm enjoying my shot and we're progressing good arsenic a team." I ne'er felt arsenic if I had a constituent to beryllium truly but possibly to myself and to Liverpool Football Club successful presumption of improving arsenic a player."

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