Jordan Henderson has revealed he was reduced to tears after learning Liverpool attempted to sell him at the start of the 2012-13 season. The then-22-year-old had joined the club from Sunderland for £20m a year earlier but struggled to make an impact under Kenny Dalglish.
New manager Brendan Rodgers informed Henderson that the club was willing to let him go, with Fulham interested in a swap deal involving Clint Dempsey. Speaking to Rio Ferdinand on BT Sport, Henderson recalled: 'It was just before we played Hearts at Anfield... I had a conversation with Brendan at the hotel the day of the game... He gave me the option. It was more the club that was willing to let me go.'
Henderson said he went back to his room, 'cried a little bit' and felt devastated, but resolved to fight for his place. 'It wasn't really an option for me to leave, because I hadn't been at the club very long, and I'd worked extremely hard to get there,' he added.
Rodgers offered Henderson a path back into the team if he improved tactically. The midfielder took the advice on board, starting just 16 league games that season but playing a key role the following campaign as Liverpool came close to winning the title. He went on to become club captain and spent a decade at Anfield, winning the Champions League and Premier League.
