Christian Eriksen bids farewell to Manchester United after three-year stint

Christian Eriksen (33) concludes his three-year association with Manchester United.

On the 30th (Korean time), Eriksen bid farewell through his personal social media, saying, "I sincerely thank all the fans who have supported me as a player at Manchester United over the past three years."

He added, "I am grateful to all the kind and sincere people at the club who welcomed me and my family warmly from the start. It was truly enjoyable to share the locker room and the pitch together! It has been a wonderful time, and I have created amazing memories that I will cherish forever. Thank you."

Eriksen's contract with Manchester United will expire at the end of this season. However, Manchester United has decided not to offer an extension, and after finishing the final match against Aston Villa in the Premier League on the 26th, they announced, "Victor Lindelöf, Jonny Evans, and Eriksen will leave Manchester United."

On that day, Eriksen recorded his last goal for Manchester United. He coolly converted a penalty kick awarded to him by Bruno Fernandes near the end of the second half and acknowledged the fans packed in Old Trafford (Manchester United's home ground) with applause. He concluded his farewell and ended his journey with Manchester United.

This was a predicted separation. Reports have emerged for months that Manchester United would not keep Eriksen. Like Son Heung-min, born in 1992, he is now a player who has passed his prime. There have been many evaluations that he does not fit well in the playing style of coach Ruben Amorim, who requires a lot of activity and quick transitions in midfield.

Eriksen also opened up about his future. In March, he said, "I haven't heard anything from the club. Therefore, I expect our journey to come to an end. I think so. The contract expires this summer. I am ready to look for something new. I am okay."

Eriksen added, "I haven't decided where I will go yet. Except for right after my cardiac arrest, I have never tried to terminate a contract. The situation was a bit different then." He continued, "I am waiting to see what offers come. I won't make a hasty decision, but if the right decision is made, I will accept it. However, I don't know what is right."

Veteran midfielder Eriksen was once one of the key players leading Tottenham's golden age. He played for Tottenham from 2013 to 2020, forming the so-called 'DESK' line with Dele Alli, Son Heung-min, and Harry Kane. Eriksen often assisted Son's goals with his sharp kicks and creative passes.

He is also known as an example of 'human victory.' Eriksen joined Inter Milan in January 2020 but collapsed from acute cardiac arrest during the UEFA Euro 2020 match against Finland in the summer of 2021. His unconsciousness and being carried off on a stretcher shocked football fans around the world.

Fortunately, Eriksen regained consciousness and, remarkably, returned to the pitch after surgery, providing a great emotional moment. Although he could no longer play in Serie A due to having an Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) implanted, he signed a six-month short-term contract with Brentford in January 2022, returning to the Premier League stage—259 days after his absence.

Remarkably, Eriksen showcased his enduring skill. He gained attention by leading Brentford's resurgence in the second half of the season and successfully donned a Manchester United jersey ahead of the 2022-2023 season. However, Eriksen could not escape the passage of time, and now it is time to conclude his journey.

However, Eriksen has no intention of retiring. He still wants to remain in Europe and compete at the highest level. He even expressed negative sentiments about returning to his home country of Denmark.

In March, Eriksen stated, "I am not going to the United States. I won't go that far. I want to stay in Europe, but it feels too early to return to Denmark." He emphasized, "I feel it is essential to finish with my family and career if I return to Denmark. It's true, but it's not the right time yet. My ambition is still to play for the national team, so I don't think it's time to go back home."

Eriksen's thoughts appear to remain unchanged. Recently, his agent, Martin Schütz, commented in an interview with 'BT', "Eriksen is still ambitious. There is much to do in larger leagues. I can easily envision him playing in Denmark in the future, but for now, it seems he will only be seen in the national team."

Currently, Eriksen is connected to Spain's Mallorca, where Lee Kang-in played. According to some Spanish media, Mallorca is considering the possibility of signing Eriksen. Since no transfer fee is necessary, if Eriksen agrees to a salary reduction, the deal could materialize quickly.

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