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A little over a year after the heart attack that almost cost him his life during the Euro, Christian Eriksen is giving a boost to his football career. The Dane, who replayed from February with Brentford and the national team, signed up for three seasons with Manchester United on Friday July 15.
The tragedy, with a happy ending, had shocked the world. On June 12, 2021, at the Parken in Copenhagen, the Euro 2020 Denmark-Finland match was stopped in the 42nd minute, while Christian Eriksen lay on the ground, victim of a heart attack. He himself would later say that he was dead for five minutes “, under the gaze of teammates, opponents, spectators and stunned viewers. The rapid intervention of the emergency services was life-saving. The doctors managed to revive the Dane, and he was then able to leave the field and be hospitalized, while the national team continued their journey to the semi-finals.
After such an event, the rest of Christian Eriksen’s career was very uncertain. For many observers, the midfielder would no longer play at a high level. Now equipped with a defibrillator, he could no longer wear the jersey of his club Inter Milan, Italian rules prohibiting footballers from playing in Serie A with such a device.
At the end of 2021, the ex-Tottenham player therefore terminated his contract with the Nerazzurri. But out of the question for him to definitively give up the land.
Resurrection in the Netherlands, in Brentford and with the national team
Christian Eriksen first flew to the Netherlands to train at Ajax Amsterdam, the club where he completed his training, made his professional debut and made a name for himself. Then, at the end of January, the Dane signed a six-month contract with Brentford, a club at the bottom of the table in England. There, he found his compatriot Thomas Frank as coach. And from the end of February, the attacking midfielder pushed back the lawns with the Bees.
Since then, everything has been linked. At the end of March, then again in full possession of his means, the Dane returned to the national team. He even celebrated his return to Denmark with a goal after only two minutes of play against the Netherlands. With Brentford, everything went well too: the club ensured its maintenance in the Premier League while the player played 11 matches (including 10 as a starter from start to finish) for one goal scored and four assists delivered.
Now 30, Christian Eriksen has proven he can still shine on the pitch. That’s good because at the end of the year, Denmark will play the World Cup in Qatar. And before this international meeting, the number 10 has a new major challenge to take up: Manchester United.
« I still have major ambitions »
The Mancunian institution has certainly lost its luster in recent years, but it remains a stronghold of English football. Not insensitive to the comeback of the Dane, the Red Devils have set their sights on him this summer. The case, in discussions for several days, was concluded on Friday July 15: the last medical examinations proved positive, and Christian Eriksen is now linked to Manchester United for the next three seasons.
« Manchester United is a special club and I can’t wait to start. I’ve had the privilege of playing at Old Trafford many times, but to do it in United’s red jersey will be an incredible feeling. I still have major ambitions in this sport, I know that I can still do a lot of things and this is the perfect place to pursue my path. “commented the neo-Mancunian.
With the recent departures of Nemanja Matic and Paul Pogba, Christian Eriksen is called upon to play an important role in the midfield at Manchester United. He will evolve under the leadership of a new coach, the Dutchman Erik ten Hag, previously in charge of Ajax. Success is not guaranteed, but seeing Eriksen again at such a level is already a great victory.