With the Manchester United veteran entering the autumn days of his career, will Anton Gaaei ever get the chance to play alongside him?
The all-action full-back shares Christian Eriksen’s Danish roots, though Gaaei is yet to join his nation’s captain on the international team sheet.
Gaaei is still part of Denmark’s Under 21 squad, yet to make the step up to the senior roster. He will be praying that, by the time he is part of the furniture, a soon-to-be 33-year-old Eriksen will not have already hung up his national team boots.
The veteran playmaker was subbed off on the hour mark during Thursday’s 2-0 Nations League victory over Switzerland.
Interim boss Lars Knudsen felt that Eriksen could have done with a rest ahead of Sunday’s trip to Serbia.
And while Eriksen clearly disagrees – frustrated with a lack of minutes both for club and country – this is a narrative the former Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan ace will have to get used to. Eriksen is no spring chicken, after all. And he is rapidly entering that stage of his career where his game time may have to be carefully managed.
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Christian Eriksen stays at Manchester United
Eriksen has featured only once of the bench for Manchester United in 2023/24 too.
Much to Gaaei’s disappointment, the chance to work with Denmark’s most influential footballer since the legendary Michael Laudrup has now passed him by at club level too.
Despite interest from former employers Ajax, Eriksen’s agent has confirmed to Voetbal International that he plans to stay and fight for his place at Old Trafford.
And, apeaking to Tipsbladet, a disappointed Gaaei admits he would have relished Eriksen’s return to the Johan Cruyff Arena.
“I read a lot about it,” Gaaei sighs. “And, of course, you hope for (the transfer to happen) when such a good Dane is written about.
“He is one of the best in the Nordics. So I hoped for that, but it didn’t happen. Now, we just have to do it as well as possible.”
Speaking to Ajax’s official website earlier this week, CEO Alex Kroes admitted that Eriksen was indeed ‘definitely on the list’ of transfer targets.
The underperforming Dutch giants ‘were unable to create space’ for his arrival, however.
Eriksen has also turned down potential moves to the MLS, Turkey and the Middle East. Anderlecht – the 34-time Belgian champions – had expressed an interest too.
But, like with Ajax, a deal proved impossible with Eriksen’s £150,000-a-week wages far beyond what Anderlecht were capable of offering.
Ajax and Anderlecht give up on the chase
“I myself have never mentioned the name Christian Eriksen, but of course I know Christian. He is a top player who is still contracted for one year at a top club,” Anderlecht’s chief executive Jesper Fredberg told Het Nieuwsblad.
“At the moment, (signing Eriksen) doesn’t seem realistic. But if a door suddenly opens, I want to be the first to step in.”
“It’s not just about what Manchester United is asking for. But it will also be about the player’s salary demands in such a case.”
Eriksen will be hoping that Mason Mount’s latest injury will create a chance for him to force his way back into Ten Hag’s thinking.
There are also eight Europa League group-stages fixtures to come between now and Christmas, while Man United are also expected to shuffle their pack against Barnsley in the EFL Cup.
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