In Saudi Arabia, where they were reunited for the first time, Sadio Mane and Jordan Henderson spoke briefly with one another.
The two were essential to Liverpool’s success over Tottenham in the Champions League four years ago, and they also assisted the Reds in ending their torturous wait for their first Premier League championship the following season.
Though both left European football this summer to pursue the enormous fortune on offer in the Saudi Pro League, the Middle East is still trying to entice former and present Premier League stars.
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Mane joined Al-Nassr from Bayern Munich, where he had endured a miserable year following his departure from Liverpool, while Henderson became Steven Gerrard’s first English acquisition at Al-Ettifaq.
The two met up again at the sumptuous setting behind the scenes of a media event to commemorate the start of the new Saudi Pro League season.
Henderson and Mane were clapping hands as they stood in their new team colors, and you could see the happiness on their faces.
After sharing the changing room at Anfield earlier, they then gave each other a lengthy embrace as they were obviously relieved to encounter a familiar face in strange surroundings.
Henderson gave his former teammate a gentle pat on the back as Mane pushed in for another hug after they both started grinning.
The brief video abruptly stopped as the two were allowed some alone time to make up after the England midfielder asked Mane, “You good? “
Another former Liverpool player, Fabinho, has relocated to Saudi Arabia after the English club sold him to Al-Ittihad for £40 million. He didn’t show up when Henderson and Mane got back together.
But when their new teams begin the new season on August 14, the enthusiastic partnership will soon be competing to outperform one another on the field.
In Gerrard’s first competitive game as manager, Al-Ettifaq will take on an Al-Nassr team that features Cristiano Ronaldo at the Prince Mohamed bin Fahd Stadium.
UK viewers will be able to follow the action thanks to a deal with DAZN to become the Saudi Pro League’s exclusive broadcaster.