Inter Milan midfielder Christian Eriksen has confessed that he was seen as a ‘black sheep’ during his final days at Tottenham Hotspur.
The former Spurs playmaker left North London last month after a heavy period of speculation, which included a summer where his exit was regularly discussed as he decided he wanted to leave.
That all led to the Denmark international slowly being eased out of the picture at Tottenham, with his role in the side reducing all the time, to the point where he was often starting on the bench and coming on for a few minutes when the Londoners needed rescuing, with Giovani Lo Celso acquired to take his place.
Things finally came to a head last month, when the creative ace headed for Serie A, and having settled in Milan he has given his first interview since leaving Spurs and opened up on how he felt towards the end of his period in the English capital.
“England, for the last few years, was very hectic,” he told BBC Sport.
“After what I said in the summer, it was just about: ‘When is he going to leave?’ Every game it was: ‘Is he leaving? Is he not leaving?’ Of course a lot of people were speaking about it.
“Even the fans you see on the street were like: ‘Thank you, goodbye and good luck.’ But I was still there. It was a bit weird. In my head and for my body, it is good that I am in a new place and I can start again.
“I wouldn’t say it affected me. In England, when your contract is shorter, it is like you have to leave now. You are gone. In the end I played about 30 games that were like goodbye games.
“If you have a short contract, you will be the black sheep. Of course, I did the interview. I was very honest. I felt I had to be honest.
“I did get the blame for a lot of stuff, for being the bad guy. I read I was the bad person in the changing room, that ever since I said I wanted to leave, it was no good me being there.”
Eriksen left Tottenham after making more than 300 appearances for the club, but clearly towards the end of his London tenure he was seen as something of an outcast.
Regardless of the manner of the Dane’s exit, the playmaker must be respected for his role in helping Spurs become regular Champions League participants under Mauricio Pochettino, with the side making the competition final last season.
Eriksen has left a void of creativity at Tottenham – something the fans hope Lo Celso can fill.