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Featured Image Credit: Alamy & Instagram/ManchesterUnited
Topics: Christian Eriksen, Manchester United, Football, Premier League, Transfers, Erik Ten Hag
Rory O'Callaghan
Topics: Christian Eriksen, Manchester United, Football, Premier League, Transfers, Erik Ten Hag
Christian Eriksen claims he rejected Manchester United three times before finally agreeing to a move to Old Trafford this summer.
Eriksen signed a three-year deal with the Red Devils last month, joining on a free transfer after coming to the end of his one-year contract at Brentford.
His move to Old Trafford added another chapter to the incredible comeback story of the Denmark international, who suffered a near fatal cardiac arrest while playing for his country at Euro 2020 last summer.
Eriksen has now revealed that three of United's former managers, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, had previously attempted to sign him during his seven-year spell at Tottenham.
"When I was at Spurs, I spoke to every manager who's been here at Man United to see what the situation was," Eriksen told The Times.
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"So, it's been on the books. Well, not on the books, but it's been spoken about [for a while].
"For me, then wasn't the time to move. I was at Spurs for a long time and I wanted to try something abroad, so I went to Inter and ended up having a lovely time.
"But then obviously something happened in the summer and that changed the career path I had in mind, so I came back to England, to Brentford first of all.
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"To be here [at United] is something I didn't think could happen a year ago. I never thought it was going to happen."
Eriksen also confirmed that speculation linking him with a return to Spurs this summer was "only talk".
"They [Tottenham] never really came with anything so it wasn't really a thing for me to go back to Tottenham at the time and Man United were in very early on, very positive and I had good conversations with them," he added.
"It was very positive from the first few phone calls already and the club felt like they wanted me, so it was on for a long time."
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Eriksen made his debut for United on Saturday, coming off the bench in their 1-0 defeat to Atletico Madrid in Olso, Norway. He then followed that up with his first start for the club in Sunday's 1-1 draw with Rayo Vallecano at Old Trafford.
It has been suggested that Eriksen could rival Bruno Fernandes for a place in Erik ten Hag's starting line-up this season but the Danish midfielder believes he can play alongside his Portuguese teammate.
"I can't see any problem playing with Bruno," added Eriksen, who could play in a deep-lying midfield role in Ten Hag's 4-2-3-1 formation.
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"Before I came, I spoke to [Ten Hag] about how he sees me as a player and where he sees me. He didn't mention any players. Obviously, he puts the team out and picks who's going to start, and then from there on you adapt to whoever you're playing with.
"I'll be happy wherever; I've always been like that. I try to adapt to the position I'm playing in."