Yahoo News Leicester City star wants to show club what they've been missing ahead of transfer decision
Leicester City left-back Victor Kristiansen will hope to show off his improvements on the big stage on Sunday as Denmark face Slovenia in their Euro 2024 opener.
Kristiansen is a contender to start for the Danes in the left-sided wing-back position as they look to kick off their Euros in style. It will be the first City involvement at the tournament with Jannik Vestergaard expected to start for Denmark, and with Mads Hermansen on the bench.
For City supporters, the game offers a chance to see Kristiansen in action ahead of his return to the club this summer. The 21-year-old spent the last campaign on loan at Bologna in Italy, helping them to qualify for the Champions League.
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Despite that success, Bologna have opted not to take up the purchase option in Kristiansen’s loan contract for now, putting his future up in the air. The left-back has already said he and City will work out what’s best for him after the tournament in Germany, but there are fans keen for him to be given another chance now Enzo Maresca has departed.
Kristiansen wanted to leave in order to play as a more traditional full-back, getting up and down the flank, rather than the hybrid role Maresca pictured for him, where he would drop into a back three when City were in possession. A new manager could mean there’s a role for Kristiansen again, and he believes he would return to City a better player.
“I have learned to play Italian football,” he told Danish media. “It's a little more with the handbrake on, and it's more careful than in the Premier League. Thiago Motta (the now former Bologna manager) taught me to be more fluid in the game structures than I was used to at FC Copenhagen and at Leicester.
“I have had to dribble more and be more man-orientated, and I have added that to my game. The more things I get into the toolbox, the better.
“When I signed, I did not expect it to be such a historic season. I could sense after the first matches and training weeks that it was a strong squad with a strong coach with clear ideas. It got wilder and wilder as we progressed in the season.
“We were almost undefeated at home, and we beat all the big teams away from home. It has been a fantastic experience.”
Kristiansen will hope to follow up a successful season with a triumphant Euros, with Denmark looking to build on their run to the semi-finals three years ago. Kristiansen is one of the newbies in the squad.
“There are a few extra butterflies in my stomach,” he said. “It will be really cool for both me and my family. One of the greatest things you can experience as a footballer is playing for your country in an European Championship or World Cup finals. To stand there and represent Denmark will be the greatest.
“I have played my way into the team quietly, and I have shown myself well in recent national team meetings. I hope, dream and have ambitions to start in as many matches as possible.”
