Key Highlights
- Christian Eriksen initially rejected Wrexham’s interest last summer due to concerns about his story being featured in a club documentary.
- Eriksen eventually joined Wolfsburg after leaving Manchester United, despite Wrexham’s interest.
- The revelation of the documentary concern is seen as beneficial for Wrexham as it opened up discussions with other players and improved their squad.
Documentary Controversy: Eriksen’s Rejection by Wrexham
Wrexham Football Club recently revealed the reason behind Christian Eriksen’s initial rejection of their interest last summer. According to Michael Williamson, the club’s chief executive, Eriksen turned down Wrexham because he did not want his story featured in a club documentary series.
The Documentary Debate
Wrexham has been at the center of an interesting saga since they became a free agent after leaving Manchester United. The club’s rise from the National League, under Hollywood owners Rob Mac and Ryan Reynolds, has been captured in the award-winning ‘Welcome to Wrexham’ series. This documentary project had already established itself as a platform for storytelling within the club.
However, Eriksen’s agent, Martin Schoots, revealed that when approached by Wrexham, he was concerned that the club might be interested in his client not just for his footballing capabilities but also because of his documentary potential. “We don’t want his story to be in a documentary, because we’ve had plenty of opportunities for a documentary for his story,” Schoots stated.
Club’s Genuine Interest
Michael Williamson clarified that Wrexham’s interest was purely football-related and not documentary-driven. “We were calling because he could potentially be an interesting footballer,” Williamson explained. “We were looking for players that could play for us in the Championship, difference-makers that could help us be competitive on the pitch.”
Despite these assurances, Eriksen’s agent maintained his stance, leading to a brief setback in negotiations before the Denmark midfielder ultimately signed with Wolfsburg.
The Broader Impact
While Wrexham did not secure Eriksen’s services, the club believes their interest was instrumental in opening up discussions and bringing other players into the fold. “It opened up doors and conversations to bring in players like Kieffer Moore, Josh Windass, Liberato Cacace, Lewis O’Brien, Conor Coady,” Williamson noted.
Since then, Wrexham has made significant investments in their squad, breaking transfer records multiple times and spending a reported £10 million on key signings. As of the writing, they are 16th in the Championship table, five points from the play-offs.
Future Prospects
Williamson remains optimistic about the club’s future, stating that it will take time to build a competitive squad but expressing confidence in the direction the club is heading. “We were kicking around the idea of signing Eriksen,” Williamson added. “It’s going to take a few windows to really build a squad that is pushing for promotion. But it’s only going to get better and that’s what I’m excited about.”
Christian Eriksen, who has won 146 international caps and suffered a cardiac arrest during the Euro 2020 final, currently plays for Wolfsburg after recovering from his health scare. His decision to join Wrexham initially was marred by documentary concerns but ultimately benefited the club in other ways.
