The Danish playmaker has linked up with the Red Devils as a free agent and will be hoping to figure prominently in Erik ten Hag’s plans
Christian Eriksen is a Manchester United player, having linked up with the Red Devils on July 15, and will be eager to make an immediate impression at Old Trafford. After many years of being linked with the Premier League giants, the Denmark international is finally on their books, joining as a free agent after spending the second half of last season at Brentford.
He returned to competitive action with the Bees after recovering from a cardiac arrest suffered at Euro 2020, with his exploits in west London convincing United to make a move.
At 30 years of age, and with useful experience of life in England under his belt from spells at Tottenham and Brentford, Eriksen is expected to star for Erik Ten Hag’s new-look side, but what number will he have on his back? THE KINGS takes a look…
The Denmark international is an archetypal No.10, with his creative qualities allowing him to slip seamlessly into that role.
United already have somebody filling that spot, though, in the form of Marcus Rashford, so an alternative jersey had to be taken on.
The Red Devils revealed that Eriksen will wear the No. 14 shirt as he slots into Ten Hag’s squad.
His integration into new surroundings were delayed slightly by a pre-season tour of Asia and Australia but United have now returned to Europe, ahead of friendly dates against Atletico Madrid in Oslo and Rayo Vallecano at Old Trafford, meaning that Eriksen can start to see game time.
Christian Eriksen has verbally agreed a three-year deal with Manchester United 🗣 pic.twitter.com/qXvWdJQSTv
A couple of the numbers that Eriksen has taken on at club level in the recent past were up for grabs in Manchester.
He was most recently No.21 at Brentford, with an opportunity presenting itself to continue that theme, while 24 – the spot he filled at Serie A giants Inter – is also available.
He’s a 🔟 but he wears 1️⃣4️⃣ 😎🇩🇰 @ChrisEriksen8#MUFC
Looking further down the list at Old Trafford, and No.6 could have been inherited from the departed Paul Pogba, but instead went to Lisandro Martinez
In the end, Eriksen opted to take on the No.14 jersey at United, which was vacant after Jesse Lingard departed on a free when his contract expired.
Team
Shirt number
Odense
10
Ajax
51
Ajax
8
Tottenham
23
Inter
24
Brentford
21
Man Utd
14
Eriksen started out at 10 for Odense and has tended to fill that jersey when turning out for his country.
He was, however, 51 when making a senior breakthrough at Ajax before becoming their established No.8 across four seasons.
The Dane favoured 23 at Tottenham – with that number taken by Luke Shaw at United – and has remained in the 20s during more recent times.
Where should Eriksen play for Man Utd? Let us know!
