Brian Riemer has told Tipsbladet that he made an attempt to sign Manchester United’s Christian Eriksen for Anderlecht.
Riemer was at the Jupiler Pro League club between December 2022 and September 2024. A month later, he was appointed as the Denmark manager.
The 46-year-old has been speaking about the Manchester United player, and revealed that he wanted him at Anderlecht.
Eriksen arrived at Old Trafford on a free transfer in the summer of 2022, after spending a short spell at Brentford.
Riemer knows the midfielder from his time with the Bees, where he was Thomas Frank’s assistant. Eriksen impressed the current national team manager, who wanted to reunite with him at the Belgian club.
“I didn’t know Christian when he came to Brentford, apart from seeing him on TV like everyone else of course, but I had a great six months with him at Brentford where I met him and realised what an amazing person he is,” he said.
“A man who, despite his glorious, dare I say it, career and all the honours he has achieved, is completely down to earth and never stands in the way of helping a young lad around him or taking the water bottles if that’s what it takes.
“He trains and trains and trains and is an example for the youngsters in so many areas. So, it was a huge pleasure.
“And I’ve kept in touch with Christian since then, because I’ve become a national coach. I actually tried to see if I could bring him to Anderlecht at some point, but unfortunately it didn’t work out.”
The coach hasn’t explained why Anderlecht failed and when they made an approach for the 33-year-old. RSC Anderlecht managing director Jesper Fredberg earlier stated his side tried to sign him last summer.
Eriksen’s contract expires in June and his role at Old Trafford been limited. He played 11 minutes in the Premier League in 2025, and the Denmark manager isn’t happy with his situation at Manchester United.
“He’s in a difficult situation now, there’s no secret about that,” Riemer explained.
“I know that he would obviously like to play a lot more than he does, but he’s ended up in a difficult situation, also in relation to his contract and so on.”
Despite Eriksen’s restricted role at Manchester United, Riemer says he can still contribute to the national team.
