The 34-year-old midfielder had not returned to Wolfsburg since collapsing on a football pitch for the second time in his career, during Denmark’s friendly against Ukraine on 7 June. Friday’s short visit, described on the club’s website, was the first time his teammates had seen him in person in almost two months.

“It is nice to be back with the team, even if only for a short time, to see the familiar faces again and meet the new ones,” Eriksen told the club.

“The exchange with the players and those in charge has done me good. The warm words and gestures from the fans pleased me greatly. I wish the boys a successful start to the season.”

Then he was gone.

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The plan a week earlier had already collapsed

Wolfsburg had originally wanted Eriksen at a friendly against Lyon and then in training camp with the group.

That did not happen. Sporting director Dieter Hecking, who moved into the club’s Managing Director Sport role on 1 June, told reporters the situation demanded caution.

“Unfortunately, that wasn’t possible,” Hecking said of the Lyon plan. “He will soon begin an individual rehabilitation programme in Denmark, and that will likely take some time.”

“We are not going to put pressure on him. It is a very sensitive situation that we are handling with great responsibility.”

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Wolfsburg have given no timeline for when Eriksen might rejoin training, let alone play competitively. The club’s 2. Bundesliga season begins on 8 August against Kaiserslautern.

A Danish specialist has already said stop

Eriksen clutched his chest and lost consciousness during the Ukraine match, regained awareness pitch-side, walked to the ambulance and was taken to Odense University Hospital.

Five years earlier, at Euro 2020, he had suffered a cardiac arrest against Finland and been resuscitated on the pitch in Copenhagen.

Danish heart specialist Henning Molgaard has said publicly that continuing to play would be reckless, warning Eriksen would “almost certainly collapse again” if he did.

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Neither Eriksen nor his family has spoken about retirement. Wolfsburg have not addressed it either, saying only that they “continue to wish Christian all the very best with his rehabilitation”.

Regular contact, no return date

Hecking has said the club will stay in “regular contact” with Eriksen and his doctors while he continues his programme at home.

Whether that contact ends with a Wolfsburg comeback or with the confirmation that his career is over remains unresolved. Wolfsburg open their 2. Bundesliga season against Kaiserslautern on 8 August without him.

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