'The biggest signing in our history!' - Man Utd midfielder Christian Eriksen hailed by Brentford boss Thomas Frank

The Danish midfielder suffered an on-pitch cardiac arrest during Euro 2020. During his treatment, he was implanted with a cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) device. This forced him to leave Inter due to Serie A regulations regarding such devices and he chose to settle in England with Brentford in January 2022.

Frank's admiration for Eriksen goes a long way as the duo forged a personal connection during their time together in the Denmark Under-17 national team. Speaking on an episode of 'Moments That Made Me', Frank recounted how he rekindled that connection and convinced the player to join Brentford.

"Probably the biggest signing in the modern Brentford history," Frank said of Eriksen. "I've got a personal connection with him, I coached him when he was 15 or 16 in the Denmark U17 national team for a year.

"A good story as well is that my son called me in October and said: 'Dad, you should call him' and I said: 'Yeah, maybe you're right'. At that stage, he hadn't announced what he wanted to do, and then he announced it I think in early December that he wanted to play football again. And then my son called me again and said: 'Dad, it's now'. Okay.

"When you see a player who I coached when he was 16, follow, talk with him, see him with the national team and then he walked in the door 14 years later, 30 years old. Experienced, confident, humble, a leader in his way. That was a very good experience."

Eriksen subsequently got a transfer to Manchester United in the summer of 2022. However, the 32-year-old has struggled to nail down a starting berth under Erik ten Hag and finds himself way below the first-choice candidates in the pecking order at Old Trafford.

But if Eriksen wants to shift base in search of regular minutes, Frank claimed that Brentford would always welcome him back.

"He will always be welcome back, Christian - always. I think he knows that. And we know that he had a good time here," he told Danish publication Tipsbladet earlier in February.

"I understood well why he went to United back then, and I've said that publicly. I also think he's done well. Of course, he had an injury before Christmas for a while. But if Christian wants, he's very welcome."

Frank's sentiments underscore the enduring respect and admiration that the manager has for Eriksen. He has a contract with United until 2025 and it remains to be seen if the Dane will retrace his steps to the Gtech Community Stadium in the summer to reunite with his childhood coach.