New Manchester United signing Christian Eriksen has already outlined his “dream” of playing for the club after glowing praise from Sir Alex Ferguson.
The Danish playmaker became United’s second signing of the summer transfer window as he put pen to paper on a three-year contract at the Red Devils. The 30-year-old returned to the Premier League earlier this year as he joined Brentford after leaving Inter Milan but was a free transfer this summer.
Eriksen opted to join United this summer ahead of a longer-term deal with the Bees, insisting that he was "excited" at the prospect of linking up with new United boss Erik ten Hag. It was Ten Hag who invited the former Ajax star back to the Amsterdam club’s training facilities last season to help his return to fitness following his exit from Inter and the two shared a strong working relationship.
While the Denmark international has enjoyed a fine career across which has spanned four clubs across 12 seasons, his move to Old Trafford has been a long-time coming. Eriksen’s most famous stint was a seven-year spell at Tottenham, but prior to that he had earned plaudits from legendary United boss Ferguson.
Eriksen impressed for Ajax in their Europa League Round of 32 knockout clash against United in the 2011/12 campaign, when he had just celebrated his 20 th birthday. Despite the Dutch giants being edged out by United in the tie, the playmaker impressed.
Speaking to TV3+ after United won by two goals in Amsterdam in the opening leg, Ferguson explained of Eriksen: "He's a good player - a typical Ajax player who is good on the ball - but we already knew that. We have many young players at the club, but we are always looking for talent. It's impossible to predict."
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Upon being informed of Ferguson’s praise of him, Eriksen told Ekstra Bladet after the match: "It is great to hear and an honour to hear him saying positive things about me, especially as it's not just come from any old manager. It's something I have to get used to. I would say that he is one of the game's greatest managers."
Asked whether he would be interested in a move to Old Trafford, he said: "I want to play for a big club at some point, of course, but right now I am not dreaming of anything so big. My dream is for now only about Ajax."
Over a decade on from that tie, Eriksen will finally become a part of United’s first-team squad after signing a three-year contract at Old Trafford.
