Spurs playmaker Christian Eriksen was close to joining Chelsea as a youngster, he has revealed but turned down the opportunity to move to Stamford Bridge as it was ‘a step too far’ according to Sam Long of the Evening Standard.
Whilst at Danish side Odense, Eriksen was wanted by a number of major European clubs, before he decided to join Dutch giants Ajax. As part of the decision-making process, he had trials at continental clubs Barcelona and AC Milan, as well as two short stints at Chelsea.
Me and Rasmus Falk, my team-mate from kids football and also Odense, went to Chelsea on trial, I also went back the next year and had to think what I wanted.
Whilst on the books at Odense in his native Denmark, the midfielder played three times for the Blues’ youth side, and even got the chance to mix with the first team, but a move never materialised. According to the Dane, the club’s atmosphere was the main issue that halted the switch.
The whole thing was really different to Denmark where everyone goes in and everyone goes out, no problem. Relaxed.
Chelsea, boom, the door closes behind you and stays closed. It would be too big a step for me as a person back then.
After declining Chelsea’s offer of a third trial at the club, Eriksen opted to leave Odense for Holland in 2008, where his career sprang into life. Prior to his £11.5m move to White Hart Lane two years ago, he was arguably Ajax’s most important player, and one of the top prospects in European football.
