Amid his international commitments, Christian Eriksen is yet to have the pleasure of meeting new Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim face-to-face.
As Amorim arrived on Monday following the former Sporting boss’ appointment, those currently recovering from injury at Carrington or left out by their national team – see Luke Shaw, Leny Yoro, Mason Mount and Kobbie Mainoo – were pictured making the acquaintance of the new Manchester United boss.
Christian Eriksen, however, will have to wait.
The experienced midfielder is over in Denmark alongside Rasmus Hojlund for this months’ UEFA Nations League clashes with Spain and Serbia.
But, while the Denmark squad have a potential quarter-final berth to focus their minds, an excited Eriksen is already counting down the hours until he can board a flight back to England’s north west.
Christian Eriksen excited by Ruben Amorim’s Manchester United arrival
“I am looking forward to coming back [to Man United]. Of course, I’ve seen his results recently,” Eriksen told reporters during his Wednesday press conference.
“I have seen how much Sporting has suddenly come into the media and won a lot of games – including against Manchester City!
“I hope [Ruben Amorim] comes in and creates a breath of fresh air. Then, we have to see how it goes.”
Eriksen had been one of the bright sparks for Man United during a painful final days of the Erik ten Hag era.
On paper, however, the 32-year-old may feel a little ill-suited to the style of play Amorim plans to bring with him to Old Trafford.
Amorim reportedly wants players with ‘intensity’ at Manchester United. For all of Eriksen’s qualities – still an elite ball-progresser and one of the smartest footballers in the squad – the veteran playmaker is hardly renowned for his speed across the turf or his ferocity out of possession.
Yet, with Manuel Ugarte eating up the ground and a new-look three-man centre-back set up providing greater cover in behind, perhaps there is still a place for Christian Eriksen in the post-Ten Hag regime.
Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot have both hailed Amorim’s impact at reigning Portuguese champions Sporting Lisbon. Eriksen, meanwhile, is likely to have Denmark teammate and Sporting enforcer Morten Hjulmand regaling him with tales as Man United move into another new chapter.
“[Hjulmand] may have to teach me some Portuguese words!,” Eriksen laughs.
“It is not only Amorim who is coming, but also a whole Portuguese staff. We also have a couple of Portuguese in the squad who also knew Amorim beforehand.”
Eriksen’s contract runs down amid Old Trafford uncertainty
Eriksen, meanwhile, is one of a host of senior players fighting for his future at the Premier League giants. Like Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof, the former Tottenham Hotspur ace will become a free-agent in 2025.
Despite interest from Ajax, Saudi Arabia and Anderlecht – the Belgian giants’ former boss Brian Riemer is the new Denmark coach, coincidentally – Eriksen was determined to stay at Man United last summer though there has been little movement since then on any new contract.
“I had no thoughts about moving on,” Eriksen told Bold in October.
“I didn’t hear from the club that they wanted to sell me or that I had to leave. I really just felt that the family and I were doing really well. If something really exciting came along, or something where I really felt ‘I want to try this’, then fair enough. But it wasn’t that I had to leave.
“There are a lot of questions and thoughts from outside when you don’t play at the start of the season, when the transfer window is still open.
“But I feel that it was the right choice [to stay]. The family is fine, I am fine. And now I get playing time again at a club like Manchester United.
“[The decision I made] can’t be too wrong!”
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