You need only look at Daley Blind to realise that, for Christian Eriksen, that haunting June afternoon in Copenhagen need not be the end of his footballing career.
“When this happened to me, the whole world was telling me I was finished as a player. That I would not be able to play again.” Blind told the Metro.
He, like Eriksen, was fitted with a pacemaker after suffering heart problems.
“Look where I am today,” Blind adds. “This is why I say to everyone, ‘Leave Christian alone!’”
Look indeed. The former Manchester United is in the form of his life at the age of 31.
It is over two years now since Blind took some time out of the game after being diagnosed with a heart inflammation. He’s played 47 Eredivisie games in the last 14 months, starting all-but one of Ajax’s 19 league fixtures this term and grasping his second chance with a fierce, fearless determination.
In fact, Blind’s been so damned impressive that Nicolas Tagliafico, Ajax’s Argentine international left-back, has been forced to accept a watching brief in recent months.
Previously one of the first names on Erik Ten Hag’s team-sheet, Tagliafico has accumulated just three Eredivisie starts in 2021/22.
Sporting director Marc Overmars would have even let Tagliafico go, if the conditions were right.
Will Nicolas Tagliafico leave Ajax?
“It was quite difficult to keep Nico,” Overmars admits, via Voetbal International.
The Mail claimed that Newcastle United are fans of the 29-year-old, available for just £6 million with 18 months left on his Ajax contract. Aston Villa were also keen, along with Marseille and La Liga giants Barcelona.
“I wish Nico everything but we also have to make sure we don’t shoot ourselves in the foot,” Overmars adds.
“We did not come to a good solution. Of course, that’s a shame. It is sour for him that he plays less but a transfer was not possible now.
“Something will happen that makes you have to play a youth player and something will go wrong. I hope for Nico that something good will come at the end of the season. But this deal only had drawbacks for Ajax.”
With Matt Targett leaving Aston Villa for Newcastle and Lucas Digne taking his place in Steven Gerrard’s XI, two potential destinations for Tagliafico appear to have gone up in smoke. Marseille, meanwhile, brought in Sead Kolasinac from Arsenal.
Barcelona is still an option of course.
But with Blind performing at such a high level, things aren’t going to get any easier for Tagliafico. The summer really can’t come soon enough.
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