Denmark international midfielder Christian Eriksen has revealed that he does not want to leave Ajax for pastures new just yet, backing his decision to turn down an offer to join Manchester City in 2011, Sky Sports understands.
At 20, Eriksen has already played in a World Cup and a European Championship for Denmark after breaking into Ajax’s first team as a 17-year-old.
In addition to the interest from Manchester City, English Premier League giants Liverpool and Manchester United have also been linked with the attacking midfielder, who led Ajax to a 3-1 win over Manchester City in the UEFA Champions League last month, taking home the man-of-the-match honour.
“I think many other players would have said ‘yes’ to City’s offer but I had my own reasons for turning them down,” insisted Eriksen.
“I remember my agent calling me to tell me that they had come in for me but I told him straight away that I did not see any point in moving to Manchester City
and I still don’t.
“At the end of my career we will see if I took the right decision. But I feel much more at home at a club like Ajax. I really don’t want to swap this club for another yet.”
One thing we do know is that Eriksen’s decision was not motivated by money, because he would have surely gotten a substantial “bumper-deal” had he agreed to move to the Etihad Stadium in 2011.
The Ajax ace has tallied five goals and two assists in just nine appearances in all competitions for the Dutch Eredivisie giants this season.
Holloway hopes to keep hold of Zaha
New Crystal Palace manager Ian Holloway, who left Blackpool in favour of bossing the Eagles, remains hopeful that the club’s highly-rated 19-year-old starlet Wilfried Zaha will stay at Selhurst Park, with Premier League quartet Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United reportedly keen on the England U-21 international, Sky Sports reports.
Although Holloway is optimistic that Zaha will stay at Crystal Palace, he revealed that he did not ask for a “guarantee” regarding the future of the club’s ace prior to accepting Palace’s managerial position.
“I am sure one of the first questions I will be asked is about what the future holds for Wilfried. My honest answer is that I really don’t know,” said Holloway.
“Would I like to keep him with me at Palace? You’re damn right I would. I’ve got him at least until the transfer window reopens in January and I can’t wait to see him close up and in the flesh every day.
“Hopefully I can show him that I can be good for him like he has been good for Crystal Palace. The first thing I will tell him is that I will never hold him back when it comes to realising his ambitions.”
Now then, should Zaha stay at Crystal Palace, who have a legitimate chance of obtaining promotion to the Premier League this season, or should he go to a club like Liverpool in January?
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