The Danish football media are great, really. With the country having some talented young players coming through, the Danish media have followed their progress, or lack of it, and managed some interesting interviews with compatriots in the Premier League.
But, what’s been going on with Christian Eriksen recently is odd, and could lead one to believe that someone from the player’s camp is pushing the whole thing. There’s no proof for that, but it’s either angling for a move, or the Danish media, and specifically Ekstra Bladet, have decided to do that on Eriksen’s behalf.
For years there have been suggestions in Denmark that Eriksen is just the type of player suitable for Barcelona, and his good season for Tottenham has encouraged that further. Eriksen has never been a big target for the Catalan press, he’ll occasionally appear on long lists, or as a suggestion, but it’s not been more than that.
In April, when there was a weak Eriksen to Barcelona link in the English media, it was snapped up by Ekstra Bladet, who didn’t waste the opportunity to point out their man would suit such a move. We said at the time: ‘There is a strong sense the Danes would want to see this transfer happen’
A couple of days later Ekstra Bladet spoke to Mikkel Beck, Lucas Digne’s agent, who told them: “I talk regularly with Barcelona’s sports director, and I do not know about the interest from Barcelona.
“It is not certain that he shares everything with me, but as I understand it, it is not the position they are looking for players in.”
Catalan journalist Albert Masnou was also quizzed, and was ‘very unsure’ Eriksen is even a target: “I do not know, I really do not know. I don’t have any information about it from the club, and I don’t know if Eriksen is actually on Barcelona’s wish list.
“The rumour comes from the English press, and we have only published what they said. At present we do not have any information from the club that Christian Eriksen is a possibility for the club.”
So, that’s it then, dead, right? Wrong.
Earlier this week Ekstra Bladet asked Eriksen about a potential move to Barcelona. There was no real reason for this, the Catalan press haven’t been pushing it, and the odd chancing English report didn’t really justify it, but they asked anyway.
“I still have a contract with Tottenham a few more years. There are always rumours about footballers… Barcelona are a great club and I don’t think there are many who say no to Barcelona.”
That opened the can of worms, and it now very much feels like that was the plan all along.
Denmark manager Åge Hareide was even asked about Eriksen moving to Barcelona, and supposedly being third choice for the club (we’ll return to that soon): “I think it’s strange he’s not first choice. Christian is not just a Barcelona type player – he is a fantastic footballer. And with even better players around him, he will only be even better. I am completely convinced. More and smarter players around him will benefit a player like Christian, who is so gifted with the ball at his feet.
“He also has a high level at Tottenham, where he knows what he must do. So it’s hard.”
The back page of Friday’s Ekstra Bladet is very much all Eriksen to Barcelona, and they’ve been buoyed by a report from Mundo Deportivo: ‘The other day, speculation about a possible transfer was recognised when Mundo Deportivo, the local Catalan sports newspaper, named the 25-year-old Dane as number two on Barcelona’s wish list if they fail to pick up Argentine Marco Verratti.’
Ignoring Verratti’s nationality, we all make mistakes, Mundo Deportivo didn’t put Eriksen as number two on the wish list. They said Verratti and Jean Seri are ahead of him, showing that Barcelona are looking for a different type of player.
What Ekstra Bladet also fail to point out is that Mundo Deportivo pretty much accused Eriksen of sending out a come and get me plea.
With Mundo Deportivo covering Eriksen’s comments to Ekstra Bladet, talking up Barcelona, it’s clear that’s the only reason the Tottenham player was even named in the article.
The Catalan newspaper said he’d ‘opened the exit door wide’ with those comments, and ‘wanted to step forward’ to publicly let Barcelona know he fancies it. So, yes, a come and get me plea… but none of that is being shared with the Danish audience.
A week which has seen Eriksen, somewhat strangely, pressed on Barcelona, his positive answers used to fuel stories, the national manager dragged in, and parts of reports cherry picked to talk up the possibility, is nearly over.
But there’s more. Clearly wishing to empty that can of worms further, Ekstra Bladet have more quotes from both Hareide and Eriksen.
First up the national coach: “Christian can play everywhere. He will also be ready to take the greatest leap in his career. Christian has proven he can handle all situations. He has good conditions under a sensible trainer who uses him right at Tottenham.
“It will be an even bigger circus with even greater pressure in Barcelona, but Christian is the kind who can handle it.”
The Tottenham player: “There is nothing from Barcelona. It’s a hypothetical question, if it happens.
“You can dream and hope the opportunity arises. But if it doesn’t, you can’t decide on it.
“Everyone dreams of the opportunity to move to clubs. Whether it ends with a yes or no. You choose that. Agger said no (after earlier claims the former Liverpool player turned down Barca). It may be I’m in the same situation. I’ll take a position when it comes.”
Just to ram it home further, BT, the other main sport covering Danish newspaper, also go big on Friday with Eriksen’s Barca dream quotes.
To be honest, it’s become plain weird. The idea Eriksen would suit Barcelona is a worthy one, but from that there’s been a clear effort to build speculation. With the Catalan press loving a transfer rumour it was obvious they’d pick it up, but they did so in the smallest possible way, and were pretty frank about the situation as they saw it.
Perhaps the Danish media know something we, and the Catalan media, don’t, that Barcelona are genuinely considering an effort to sign Eriksen this summer. Or, alternatively, for whatever reason, perhaps someone is pushing this whole thing forward.
There’s only so long the hornet nest of the Catalan media will need to be prodded before the whole thing goes off, with Mundo Deportivo and Sport then getting bored of Hector Bellerin, Marco Verratti, Jean Seri and others, and moving on to an Eriksen obsession, regardless of there being genuine Barcelona interest or not.
Tottenham, who can do without a manufactured summer saga, may want to have a look at the situation.
