Nicklas Bendtner's Copenhagen Debut Set To Be Played Behind Closed Doors

Nicklas Bendtner's debut for hometown club FC Copenhagen is set to be played without any supporters present due to fears of overcrowding.

The former Arsenal and Juventus striker has returned to the Danish capital after leaving Norwegian champions Rosenborg BK and is poised to play his first game for the club's reserves in a game against rivals Brøndby.

But with such a demand to see Bendtner's first game, coupled with the fact it's essentially a derby match, FCK have decided to have the fixture played behind closed doors for safety reasons.

"This game is against Brøndby and then it's war," Copenhagen manager Ståle Solbakken told VG, as per The Guardian.

"It's just not possible. We have to close it [for fans]. There would have been supporters from both sets of teams, meaning 3-4,000 fans for a reserve game. We can't house them there. Our training ground would have blown up.

"I don't think the marketing department has ever experienced anything like it. It is quite surreal. I think you have to go back to Preben Elkjær in the 80s to find someone with the same cult-hero status."

Bendtner's arrival at Copenhagen has caused a quite sensational buzz. In just 17 hours after his signing was announced, the club's official website momentarily crashed - with the 2019/20 home shirt is no longer available after 'Bendtner 32' was printed so many times.

Fanshop store manager, Martin Nohr, said he had never seen anything like it in his time working for the club.

"There has been huge interest in securing our new home jersey with 'Bendtner 32' on the back, which has meant that the jersey is sold out in all sizes." he told BT.DK.

"We are at an unprecedented level in recent years when it comes to selling jerseys, and there is a huge interest in our jerseys at the moment.

"We have never sold so many jerseys in one day!"

Bendtner hasn't played in a game since April and it definitely showed in his performance during shooting practice in a training session on Wednesday.

We await to find out if the 'Lord' can still do the business back home...

Topics: Football News, Football, Juventus, Denmark, Arsenal

Josh Lawless

Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports.

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