Saturday, January 8, 2022 at 2:56 pm• Jordi Tomasowa • Last update: 15:27

Tottenham Hotspur manager Antonio Conte has said he supports Christian Eriksen’s intention to return to the highest level. The Danish midfielder played under Conte at Internazionale and is awaiting a new employer after his contract with i Nerazzurri was recently disbanded with immediate effect due to an attached defibrillator. “The door is always open for Christian Eriksen,” said the Italian coach.

Eriksen suffered a cardiac arrest last summer during the European Championship match with Finland (0-1 loss). During his months of rehabilitation, a defibrillator was fitted. However, it is banned from playing in Serie A with Inter tore up the Danish midfielder’s contract last month. Eriksen then dived into the Swiss third division team FC Chiasso to keep up his condition. “I haven’t spoken to Christian recently. It was nice to see him on a field and to see him kick a ball,” Conte said at the press conference leading up to the FA Cup game against Morecambe.

“We are talking about a very important player, but above all a great person, and what happened last summer was not good for the people he works with and the people who know him,” Conte continued. “I was scared at the time, to see him play again now is great news. I think the door is always open for Christian Eriksen,” the Italian manager referred to a possible reunion and return to Tottenham.

Eriksen has set a clear goal for himself. “I want to play at the World Cup in Qatar,” the 109-times international of Denmark said in an interview earlier this week DR1. “I want to play soccer. It’s a goal, a dream. We’ll have to wait and see if I’m called up. But my dream is to return. I’m sure it’s possible, because I don’t feel any different. Physically I am in top shape. Until the World Cup I want to play football and prove that I am at the same level as before.”