Cristian Eriksen plans Manchester United departure, seeks new opportunity in Europe

He hinted at saying goodbye. Cristian Eriksen (33) is set to end his journey with Manchester United.

The Athletic reported on the 18th (Korean time) that "Eriksen said he plans to leave Manchester United when his contract expires in June 2025. He stated that he has not heard any new information about his contract situation and cannot be certain where he will play football next season."

Currently called up to the Denmark national football team, Eriksen opened up about Denmark's future. He shared through TV 2 Sports that "I have not heard anything from the club. Therefore, I expect our journey will come to an end. I think so. My contract expires this summer. I am ready to look for something new. I'm fine."

Eriksen went on to say, "I have not yet decided where I will go. Aside from right after my cardiac arrest, I have never attempted to terminate a contract. The situation was a bit different then," adding, "I am waiting to see what offers come in. I won't make a hasty decision, but if the right decision is made, I'll accept it. However, I don't know what is right."

Eriksen expressed that he still wants to stay in Europe. He stated, "I won't go to the U.S. I won't go that far. I want to stay in Europe, but it's too early to return to Denmark," adding, "I feel that it's important to conclude my career and be with family if I return to Denmark. That may be true, but not yet. My ambition is still to play for the national team, so I don't think it's time to go back home."

The veteran midfielder Eriksen was once one of the players who led Tottenham's prime years. He played for Tottenham from 2013 to 2020, forming the so-called "DESK" line with Dele Alli, Son Heung-min, and Harry Kane. Eriksen assisted Son's goals multiple times with sharp kicks and creative passes.

Eriksen is also an example of "human victory." He joined Inter Milan in January 2020 and collapsed from acute cardiac arrest during the UEFA Euro 2020 match against Finland in the summer of 2021. His unconscious figure being carried away on a stretcher shocked football fans worldwide.

Fortunately, Eriksen regained consciousness and remarkably returned to the pitch after surgery, providing a great inspiration. Although he could no longer play in Serie A due to having an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD), he made a comeback to the Premier League in January 2022 by signing a six-month contract with Brentford. It was a return after 259 days.

Remarkably, Eriksen showcased his enduring talent. He drew attention by leading Brentford's resurgence in the second half of the season and successfully donned the Manchester United jersey ahead of the 2022-2023 season.

Since then, Eriksen has continued to play actively. He has been a key player under manager Erik ten Hag, solidifying his role in Manchester United's midfield. He has now made a total of 99 appearances while wearing the Manchester United jersey.

The same was true for the Danish national team. Eriksen participated in the 2022 Qatar World Cup and last year also graced the UEFA Euro 2024 stage. Notably, he scored his debut goal in the Euro during the match against Slovenia, 1,100 days after collapsing from cardiac arrest, writing a miraculous story. At that time, Eriksen said, "My story in this tournament is very different from the last time. Playing in the Euro is always special."

However, it seems that Eriksen's time is now diminishing. His playing time began to decrease since last season, and he expressed dissatisfaction about it. Eriksen has not been able to start under manager Ruben Amorim, who took over midway through this season.

It appears that Manchester United has decided to part ways with Eriksen. Last month, the UK outlet Team Talk reported, "Officials at Old Trafford are said to have already decided not to renew Eriksen's contract. He currently earns £150,000 a week (approximately 270 million won). The inability of manager Amorim, who must implement high-intensity football, to find a place for the legend Eriksen, who has made 140 international appearances, also supports this decision."

Thomas Graveensen, a 'Danish senior,' even expressed concern about Eriksen's retirement. He stated, "Eriksen is 100% done at Manchester United this summer. I'm also afraid that his career might be over," questioning, "Where will Eriksen go? Where might he earn 60 million kroner (approximately 12.1 billion won)? It’s really hard for me to see that."

However, Eriksen has no intention of hanging up his boots just yet. He remarked, "My intention is not to stay in England," while hinting at parting ways with the Premier League, but he clarified that retirement is far from his thoughts and that it is too early to head to Denmark.

A potential return to his former team Ajax is also being discussed. Ajax is the place where Eriksen grew up and first stepped onto the professional stage. He made 163 appearances while wearing Ajax's jersey from 2010 to 2013. According to Eriksen's agent, Ajax attempted to sign him last summer but the deal fell through due to financial issues.

Eriksen is open to the possibility of going to Ajax. He stated, "I don't close the door on any possibilities. I will see what happens and if it’s suitable for me and my family. That was what happened last summer," adding, "We will have to wait and see what Ajax thinks this summer. Of course, this considers the interest of not only me but also the club."

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