Eriksen’s Manchester United exit may signal end of career, fears former teammate

07 February 2025 , 21:24

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Eriksen’s Manchester United exit may signal end of career, fears former teammate

Christian Eriksen is out of contract this summer and expected to leave Manchester United with his fellow Dane fearful that the playmaker may end up retiring - rather than finding a new club

Christian Eriksen has been tipped to retire from the game when his Manchester United contract expires this summer.

The Dane, now 32, moved to Old Trafford when Erik ten Hag arrived has been regularly been part of the squad. He’s been more sporadically used since Ruben Amorim was hired as manager and the former Tottenham man is expected to depart in a matter of months. 

Eriksen was hugely influential at his peak and may still have a lot to give, but finding a new club is no guarantee. The playmaker has already had to overcome physical challenges after collapsing on the pitch during Euro 2020.

Thomas Gravesen, another Dane who played in the Premier League, fears Eriksen may hang up his boots this summer once his time in Manchester ends.

The former Everton man told Tipsbladet: "It is 100 per cent over for Christian Eriksen at Manchester United this summer, and I also fear that his career is over. Where is he going to go? Where will he go and earn DKK 60m (£6.7m) a year? I have a very hard time seeing that. But now, it could be that he could settle for much less.

"Yes, he has probably earned the money he needs to, but I think that the development that Christian has undergone in the past few years is downward. 

"It is sad to see the situation Christian Eriksen is in. He’s one of the players in Denmark who has given us the most. He has shone and been our best man, so it is sad if his career ends like this."

Eriksen has already seen how difficult finding a new club can be, even if you’ve enjoyed a stellar career. His compatriot and international team-mate Simon Kjaer faced a similar situation when he left AC Milan in the summer. The 35-year-old defender was out of contract but couldn’t find a club before deciding to hang up his boots in January.

Eriksen is set to be one of several exits in the summer as Amorim reshapes his underperforming squad. Tom Heaton, Victor Lindelof, Tyrell Malacia, Casemiro are all expected to be among those who leave permanently whilst Marcus Rashford’s loan exit could become permanent.

George MacGregor