Christian Eriksen looks set to be discharged from the Rigshospitalet in Copenhagen today, just under one week after being admitted.
Today’s print edition of Milan-based newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport report that the Dane has been fitted with a cardiac implant, and that major decisions about his long-term health and playing career remain to be made.
The surgery to implant the device is considered routine and safe, but the ramifications could be significant.
No conclusive diagnosis has been released yet by the medical staff of the Danish national team, but it is thought that myocarditis (and inflammation of the heart muscle) is a possibility.
Should this be the case, it is unlikely that a pharmacological intervention would be sufficient to treat the problem, and the device would likely remain.
Were this to be the case then it is thought that the player would not be able to continue playing professionally in Italy, as according to the Cardiological Organizing Committee of the country’s sports fitness governing body, athletes with such devices may only participate in non-contact sports.
This is not the case for all countries (for example, Dutch international Daley Blind who uses such a device and has played for Ajax and Manchester United in the Netherlands and England respectively), but applies to Serie A.
Another possibility is that it will be determined by tests in 4-5 weeks that the risk of a further arrhythmia is correctable and the device can be removed.
However, for the time being all that the player and the Nerazzurri can do is wait while the 29-year-old recovers and processes his ordeal.