Jordan Henderson is set to stay at Ajax following clear-the-air talks - after he was stripped of the captaincy for Thursday's Europa League clash with Galatasaray. Henderson met with technical director Alex Kroes and general manager Menno Geelen in the dressing room immediately after the Dutch club’s 2-1 win and after strong words from both sides, the former Liverpool midfielder accepted that he will not be released from the remaining 18 months of his contract to join Monaco.

According to sources in Holland, the 34-year-old had threatened to go on strike if they did not allow him to move to France during a heated telephone call. He reported for duty as required and was initially named as captain - only for coach Francesco Faroili to decide to hand the armband to keeper Remco Pasveer just before kick-off. Henderson was substituted after 75 minutes after suffering cramp. TV cameras spotted how he failed to celebrate when Bertrand Traore and Kian Fitz-Jim scored Ajax’s goals and refused to join a lap of honour at the John Cruyff Arena with his team-mates.

Henderson admitted he had made a mistake during talks with Kroes and Geelan and they decided to draw a line under the episode. Monaco’s offer of a chance to play in the Champions League and bank a tax-free salary that would be a big improvement on the £90,000-a-week wages he earns with Ajax was a tempting one. But Ajax felt they deserved some loyalty just a year after they rescued Henderson from Al-Ettifaq following his failure to settle in the Saudi Pro-League. The midfielder struggled for form and fitness on his arrival at the club but has been a key performer this season.

After news of his desire for a move circulated, former player Wesley Sneijder criticised the ex-Liverpool star, telling him to "be a man". "Don't be so difficult," he said. "You just play that match with the armband on and then you say, 'Yeah guys, I don't know yet'. Something is going on. We'll see what happens tomorrow," Sneijder said. "Be a man and stand up. Right now you get all this speculation and you create unrest. It could have been much calmer if he had just worn the [captain's] armband. I find it very strange.".

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