If it is up to Kenneth Perez, Ajax will investigate the possibilities of bringing Christian Eriksen back. The attacking midfielder suffered a cardiac arrest in Denmark’s first European Championship match against Finland. He was then given an ICD, a subcutaneous defibrillator that intervenes in heart problems. In principle, he is not allowed to play in Serie A.
“I hear that they often talk about Bergwijn. But I was thinking: you can’t play football with a defibrillator in Italy,” Perez begins in the program The Ultimate Preview by ESPN. Italy applies particularly strict rules in this respect compared to other countries, since Daley Blind is allowed to play with an ICD in the Netherlands, for example. For example, tests are also not carried out by the clubs, but by the Italian Football Association.
Members of the Italian Football Association’s medical committee and technical scientific committee recently hinted that Eriksen may not be allowed to play in Serie A. Inter has not yet communicated anything about this. Eriksen returned to Milan last week. Perez: “The Netherlands is one of the few countries where you are allowed to play with a defibrillator. Could it not be an option for Ajax to investigate whether they can add him to the selection?”
Marciano Vink wonders what position Eriksen should play at Ajax, since the team from Amsterdam also still has Mohammed Kudus in the ranks. “The position of Klaassen. Kudus too injured to really take that into account,” Perez replies. “I hear they don’t want to sell Álvarez. But please say. Then you can play with Eriksen, Gravenberch and Klaassen with a midfield. It will of course take a while before Eriksen is back on the level.”
“You can pick him up without too much competition, because there are few countries in Europe where he can play,” Perez continues. “Inter will think: OK. You can still earn so much, but if you are not allowed to play football. Let’s say he makes eight million. Then Inter must give him eight million, while he is not allowed to play football. It’s more about getting him to play football again.”
“I think Ajax is mainly looking at Kudus, to develop it and sell it for forty or fifty million. He potentially has those capabilities. Of course it’s coffee grounds, but there are things I say: if he develops, he can be a very good player for Ajax”, predicts Vink. Hans Kraay junior, however, thinks that Kudus will eventually end up in a different position. “He was made a number ten, but I think he can be Gravenberch’s successor as a left controller. He is better there than on ten.”