Christian Eriksen is NOT expected to leave Inter Milan on deadline day, says CEO Giuseppe Marotta

Christian Eriksen will not be leaving Inter Milan on deadline day, CEO Giuseppe Marotta has confirmed – insisting the struggling Dane can play ‘an important role’.

The midfielder has struggled to adapt to life in Serie A since leaving Tottenham for around £16m this time last year – and was heavily linked with a move away from the San Siro this month. A stunning return to Spurs has been mooted, as well as a reunion with former boss Mauricio Pochettino at PSG.  

But Marotta says no Inter Milan stars will be heading off on Monday, insisting manager Antonio Conte does not have any ‘unhappy players’ – and that includes Eriksen despite his lack of form or game time. 

Inter’s Christian Eriksen (L) will not leave the club on deadline day, says Giuseppe Marotta (R)

He had been linked with a return to Spurs but that move appears to have been quashed 

‘As Antonio Conte said, if there are some players who are unhappy and want to find other clubs, it’s not right to withhold them,’ Marotta told DAZN, via Sky Sports.

‘We do not have any of those situations. Therefore, this is the squad we will have at our disposal until the end of the season.’ 

Eriksen has made just five starts in Serie A this season and has only scored twice in all competitions – both coming in the Coppa Italia. His superb free kick in that competition helped Inter beat bitter rivals AC Milan at the death last week, reviving hopes that he could resurrect his career with the club.

Eriksen had struggled to adapt at the San Siro and fell out of favour with Antonio Conte (R)

The Dane has the chance to resurrect his career and played the full 90 against Benevento

He followed that up with 90 minutes under his belt in a 4-0 win over Benevento, catching the eye with an impressive display on Saturday, and Marotta is confident the 28-year-old can provide a boost for Conte’s men for the remainder of the season.

‘When you’re in a big club, there are no starting players or deputies. There are just professionals who must answer to the coach and his decisions. A player can play less than one of his team-mates but still manage to be more influential.’ 

‘Over the course of the campaign, Eriksen too can have an important role in the team, whether he plays more or less.’

Last week Conte backed up Marotta’s comments and said Eriksen was ‘part of the project’ after scoring against AC Milan, and backed him to ‘come out of his shell’ and give the squad a boost.

His stunning free kick against AC Milan last week earned him plaudits from manager Conte 

‘For a month now I’ve been saying the same thing: this is the Inter squad. Nobody will arrive, nobody will leave. I keep saying it and nobody seems to believe me.

‘We are working with Eriksen on a tactical level to find an alternative for [Marcelo] Brozovic, because we don’t have someone like that in the squad.

‘Christian is a very intelligent lad, he has quality, he’s part of the project and I am happy he scored that goal. I really wanted him to take it, as we all know the quality he has from set plays.’

‘He’s very shy, so I hope this goal can shake him up and make him come out of his shell. We all like him, he’s a good lad, perhaps too good! He needs to be more determined.’