PLAYERS ARE NOW AGEING LIKE FINE WINES... AND ERIKSEN IS A VINTAGE

THERE was a time, believe it or not, when 30 was seen as some sort of watershed age for a footballer.

You were not so much into the final stretch of your career, you were in the final furlong.

Some big clubs even had an unwritten policy of not giving contracts of more than a year’s length to players who were in their fourth decade.

Those days are over. Mo Salah (below) turned 30 earlier this summer and has been given a new three-year deal by Liverpool.

Robert Lewandowski turns 34 next month and Barcelona want to sign him on a threeyear deal.

So many of the world’s most influential footballers are in their thirties.

Christian Eriksen reached the landmark age back in February and has been given a three-year deal by Manchester United. It is a fantastic signing.

On a heart-warming level – please forgive the pun – it is wonderful to see Eriksen back with a truly elite club after what he went through in the summer of 2021.

On a purely footballing level, it is a great piece of business.

Before the seven-month absence while his heart condition was being treated, Eriksen was not only a brilliant technician, he was a durable professional.

After making his senior debut for Ajax in 2010, the Denmark international was unavailable through injury for only 16 games before collapsing at Euro 2020.

And he has made 542 club appearances and played 115 times for his national side.

In those 542 club appearances, Eriksen has produced 162 assists and scored 115 goals.

He is a high-class talent with high-class numbers and will bring a calm creativity to a United midfield so badly lacking in guile and intuition.

Eriksen (right) would be able to stake a claim for a place in the midfield of any of the

top European teams. And,

So many of the world’s most influential footballers are in their thirties coincidentally, he has an Ajax connection, of course, which seems to be important if you want to become a new United recruit these days.

But there is nothing wrong with United boss Erik ten Hag bringing in quality players he knows he can get the best out of, nothing wrong with bringing in players who know who the boss is.

Cristiano Ronaldo knows who the boss is.

Himself. And for what he has done in his wonderful career, for his professionalism, for his achievements, he probably deserves that privilege.

And, for most of last season, he regularly dismantled the case for United being better off without him.

But while it really is ONLY exhibition stuff on their current pre-season tour, it is encouraging to hear Marcus Rashford talking about a fresh start.

There are good vibes coming from Ten Hag’s camp. Lisandro Martinez would make for an exciting acquisition – and there will be more to come.

Of course, optimism is natural when there is the sort of fresh start Rashford talks about AND there is a huge gap for them to close at the top of the Premier League.

But if that fresh start for United has Eriksen at its hub and has no Ronaldo, it would be no bad thing.