Al-Ettifaq captain Jordan Henderson has revealed he never felt that Liverpool wanted him to stay.
The England international left in the summer to join the Saudi Pro League after 12 years at Anfield.
Al-Ettifaq boss Steven Gerrard who previously played alongside Henderson at Liverpool helped the veteran midfielder make the decision.
The 33-year-old spoke with the Athletic and said: "There were a few things that sent alarm bells ringing. I've got a very good relationship with Jurgen (Klopp). He was very honest with me.
"I won't go into detail about the conversation because it's private, but it put me in a position where I knew that I wasn't going to be playing as much.
"And if I'm not playing, as anybody will know, especially the manager, that can be quite difficult for me and especially when I've been at a club for so long, I've captained the team for so long. Especially when England's a big thing for me. You've got the Euros coming up. And then there was an approach from Al-Ettifaq to the club to see if it would be possible for me to go there.
"The reaction from the club again wasn't to say no. At that moment I felt as though my value or the want for me to stay, with the manager and within the club, maybe it had shifted. I knew that time would come at some point. I didn't think it would be now. And I had to accept that.
"If one of those people said to me, 'now we want you to stay', then we wouldn't be having this conversation. And I have to then think about what's next for me in my career. Now, that's not to say that they forced me out of the club or they were saying they wanted me to leave but at no point did I feel wanted by the club or anyone to stay.
