Calls for Manchester United to sign Christian Eriksen gained momentum when Brentford visited Old Trafford in May – and those calls have now become reality.
While the game itself was largely pointless and had a real end-of-the-year feel to it, Eriksen was arguably the best player in the park – even if his side was beaten firmly by United.
The 30-year-old showed that he is still capable of playing at the highest level, an incredible achievement for someone who suffered cardiac arrest on the pitch at Euro 2020. dictate from the center of the field.
Those 90 minutes at Old Trafford were a perfect illustration of his brief stint at Brentford, who he joined in January after his contract with Inter Milan was terminated in December.
Manchester United officially announced the signing of Christian Eriksen on Friday afternoon
The midfielder was hugely impressive when Brentford faced United at Old Trafford in May
Eriksen admired not only the fact that he was back playing – a remarkable achievement in itself – but also the way he controlled the games for Thomas Frank’s side.
It was no wonder Brentford wanted to keep him so badly. The Bees offered him a contract to stay in West London, but the Danish star has instead signed for Manchester United, joining Erik ten Hag’s revolution.
Eriksen on Friday became United’s second signing under the Dutchman after agreeing a three-year contract at Old Trafford until 2025.
He will not take part in the remainder of the club’s pre-season tour of Australia, which has just a week to go, and will instead work on his fitness in Carrington.
Here, sports post looks at his potential role at United, how his arrival has been received by the fans and why he may have a point to prove.
Where does Eriksen fit in?
United have been clamoring for depth in midfield for years, a need exacerbated by the departures of Paul Pogba, Nemanja Matic, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard this summer.
Eriksen’s signing gives the Red Devils another option and adds a touch of class to a much-maligned midfield unit.
The Danish international suffered a cardiac arrest on the field during the Euro 2020 last summer
Eriksen signs for United 13 months after collapsing on the pitch while playing for his country
Eriksen has adapted his game over time and regularly comes in deeper to pick up the ball for Brentford and his passing and creativity from those areas will be an asset to United.
The Red Devils will play in the Europa League next season after failing to finish in the top four after a dismal and forgettable end to the season and will need all the players they can get to tackle the grueling European schedule. to grab.
Eriksen is likely to be a team player under Ten Hag, given the fame of Bruno Fernandes and the potential arrival of Frenkie de Jong, but he will fit perfectly into the Dutchman’s favorite 4-3-3 formation when called up.
He will provide competition to Bruno Fernandes, who may have to feel his place under pressure if he is to recapture the form that quickly propelled him to hero status at Old Trafford.
Eriksen will provide much-needed competition to United playmaker Bruno Fernandes
On the other hand, Fernandes has shown his petulant side too many times for many fans and there is no guarantee that he will react well if Eriksen joins the club.
Eriksen is unlikely to dislodge the Portuguese immediately, but Fernandes will be wary that the Dane will wait to seize his chance if he fails to reach his previous heights.
How was the signature received?
The majority of United fans have reacted positively to the arrival of the Dane.
Smart business and United have rarely gone together in recent years, especially under the now-deceased Ed Woodward, but there is no doubt that Eriksen’s move is a smart move.
Some lament the fact that Eriksen, like so many others who have come through the door at Old Trafford, did not join the club five or ten years ago.
Danny Murphy (E) insists he’d be ‘underwhelmed’ by Eriksen’s (left) signing if he were a United fan
Still, the overall impression was positive, with one fan posting on Twitter: ‘So glad to have you at Manchester United, Christian. I look forward to seeing what you can do, and seeing you add a touch of class to the piece.”
Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy was not so sure about the move when news of a verbal agreement first broke. Murphy said he would be “underwhelmed” if he were a United fan and said the Dane is “not world class”.
“I really like Eriksen, I’ve always admired him in terms of his creativity and the way he plays his football,” Murphy told talkSPORT.
“He’s trying things, he’s good at set plays, two good feet, but would it excite me if I were a United fan? He’s going to be a team player, isn’t he?
“He could change a game, yes, that’s fair. He can come off the bench and change a game, but will he bring United closer to Liverpool and City? Nowhere near.
“In the cold light of day, if they want to be competitive against Liverpool, City and Chelsea, or even just Liverpool and City, that’s not the kind of contract United should be making.”
Why would he have a point to prove?
Nicknamed ‘golazo’ for his propensity to score or assist at crucial moments, Eriksen was described by former boss Mauricio Pochettino as the ‘brain’ of the team after his largely successful spell at Spurs.
He became a fan favorite at the club where he made over 300 appearances, but his final season was difficult to say the least.
Eriksen had a rough end to his Spurs career and was booed by fans for his showings
Eriksen was cast as the play’s villain towards the end of his time in north London after saying he wanted to leave in the summer of 2019. A protracted saga ensued – not by the player, it must be said – and he didn’t make it to Inter Milan until six months later.
Spurs fans have slowly turned against their once acclaimed playmaker and he was booed by parts of the club’s fans in his last three appearances for their side.
His desire to take on a new challenge, coupled with his underpowered performances on the pitch, threatened to tarnish his Spurs legacy, but he is still fondly remembered and there are certainly supporters who might have wished for him to return. instead of signing for United.
The Dane also struggled to make his mark on Inter before they rescinded his contract
Eriksen also endured a mixed spell at Inter after eventually leaving White Hart Lane. He played 60 games and scored eight goals, before his stint in Italy ended prematurely after suffering cardiac arrest while playing for Denmark against Finland at Euro 2020.
He struggled to make his mark with the Serie ‘A’ outfit, who had been forced to terminate his contract after local health regulations prevented him from playing in Italy with an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator.
Why did he choose United?
Eriksen had plenty of offers on the table after he starred at Brentford, scoring one goal and providing four assists in 11 appearances.
In addition to United and Brentford, Everton, Leicester, West Ham and Ajax all wanted to secure his signature, while there were also rumors of interest from Spurs.
Eriksen is Manchester United’s second signing under new manager Erik ten Hag
While the Dane will accept that he may not be United’s first-choice, the chance to play for one of the game’s biggest clubs – probably for the last time in his career – was too good to turn down.
Like the chance to work under Ten Hag, with the pair briefly crossing over when Eriksen was at Ajax, the club left Ten Hag from 2010 to 2013 to take on the managerial hot seat at United.
Fans are now hoping he will justify his salary by taking his Brentford form to Old Trafford – this time for them rather than against them.
What did Eriksen say about the move?
By signing for United, Eriksen insists he still has ambitions at the top of the game, describing a crucial conversation he had with Ten Hag before finalizing the transfer.
“Manchester United are a special club and I can’t wait to get started,” he said. “I’ve had the privilege of playing at Old Trafford many times, but to do it in United’s red shirt will be a great feeling.
Eriksen insists he still has ambitions at the highest level and still has a lot to achieve
‘I have seen Erik’s work at Ajax and know the level of detail and preparation that he and his staff deploy every day.
“Obviously he’s a fantastic coach. Now that I’ve talked to him and learned more about his vision and the way he wants the team to play, I’m even more excited about the future.
“I still have big ambitions in the game, there’s a huge amount that I know I can achieve, and this is the perfect place to continue my journey.”