Director Beppe Marotta confirms Christian Eriksen has written to his Inter teammates on their WhatsApp group from hospital after collapsing on the pitch. ‘We watched the images on TV that suggested something dramatic was happening.’
The midfielder collapsed during Denmark’s Euro 2020 match against Finland in Copenhagen this evening and required CPR before he was finally stretchered off, conscious and alert, after circa 15 minutes of treatment.
“We watched the images on TV that suggested something dramatic was happening, which unfortunately we have also seen on Italian pitches before,” Marotta told Rai Sport.
Livorno midfielder Piermario Morosini collapsed and died on the pitch from an undiagnosed heart condition in April 2012, aged 25, during a Serie B match against Pescara.
“The players are very close and we all immediately communicated with each other after seeing those images. We didn’t want to be invasive and so tried to respect his convalescence once we had been reassured.
“I can only say that 10 minutes ago Eriksen himself sent a message in our internal chat and this confirms the bond between the players.”
Marotta was asked if COVID could potentially have been involved in the sudden collapse.
“He did not have COVID and was not vaccinated either. At this moment, Eriksen is under the guidance of the Danish medical staff and it is right that they release information, but I can say the Inter medical staff have been in contact with them from the start.”
Eriksen had been on the verge of leaving Inter in January, but after a change of tactical position, he proved crucial to their Serie A title-winning run.
“He struggled to settle in initially, then Antonio Conte worked very well with him,” added Marotta.
“We want to hang on tight to him for a long time and hope he can resolve his health issues.”