Morten Frendrup

2.2.1. Breakthrough and establishment

In the summer of 2017, at the age of 16, Frendrup was included in Brøndby IF's first-team training camp in Austria, alongside other academy prospects like Christian Enemark and Andreas Bruus. In December 2017, he signed a new contract with the club, extending his stay until the summer of 2020.

Frendrup made his senior debut for Brøndby on February 11, 2018, in a Danish Superliga match against Lyngby Boldklub, which Brøndby won 3-1. He was substituted into the game in the 85th minute, making history as the youngest player to ever appear for Brøndby at 16 years and 310 days old, surpassing the previous record held by Magnus Warming by 37 days. Following this milestone, on March 15, 2018, Frendrup signed his first professional contract, securing his place at the club until 2021.

During the 2019-20 season, Frendrup's playing time significantly increased in the autumn due to long-term injuries to key starters such as Lasse Vigen, Simon Tibbling, and Josip Radošević. His strong performances during this period earned him the Brøndby Player of the Month award for November 2019. On January 12, 2020, Frendrup further solidified his commitment to the club by signing another new three-and-a-half-year contract, keeping him at Brøndby until 2023. He continued his impressive form in the second half of the season, being named the Superliga Talent of the Month for June 2020, and subsequently earning the Brøndby Player of the Month award for both June and July. At the end of the season, head coach Niels Frederiksen praised Frendrup, identifying him as one of the most impactful players for the team in the latter half of the campaign.

2.2.2. Danish champions and European debut

Frendrup maintained his starting position in midfield throughout Brøndby's 2020-21 campaign. On December 20, 2020, he marked his 50th appearance across all competitions as Brøndby secured a 2-1 victory over Horsens, entering the winter break at the top of the league table.

As the season approached its climax, with Brøndby contending for their first league title in 16 years, Frendrup was sent off in a critical match against AGF on May 20, 2021. Despite leaving the pitch in tears, his team ultimately secured a vital 2-1 win. Upon their return to Brøndby Stadion after the match, Frendrup and his teammates were met with immense support from cheering fans. Although Frendrup was suspended for the final match of the season against Nordsjælland, he watched his team clinch the Danish Superliga title with a 2-0 victory.

On August 17, 2021, Frendrup made his European debut in the UEFA Champions League play-off first leg, which saw Brøndby lose 2-1 to Red Bull Salzburg. He made a total of eight European appearances, two in the UEFA Champions League and six in the UEFA Europa League. His first goal in the domestic league came on October 24, when he scored in the Copenhagen Derby against FC Copenhagen, contributing to a significant victory for his club.

2.3.1. Transfer and Serie A debut

On January 30, 2022, Morten Frendrup completed a transfer to Serie A club Genoa, signing a four-and-a-half-year contract. Although the transfer fee was not officially disclosed, it was widely reported to be around 3.50 M EUR.

He made his debut for Genoa over a month later, on March 13, in a goalless away draw against Atalanta. In an unusual move, Frendrup started the match at right-back, covering for the injured Silvan Hefti. He continued to feature in the remaining matches of the season. Despite his contributions, Genoa suffered relegation to Serie B, finishing 19th in the league table, three points shy of safety.

2.3.2. Promotion to Serie A

In the 2022-23 campaign, Frendrup became an undisputed starter for Genoa in their first season back in Serie B since the 2006-07 season. Under head coach Alexander Blessin, he demonstrated remarkable versatility, playing in various positions, though he predominantly excelled as a box-to-box midfielder. He earned praise for his exceptional work rate and his astute ability to read the game.

Frendrup scored his first goal for Genoa on September 3, 2022, opening the scoring in the team's thrilling 3-3 home draw against Parma. Following Blessin's dismissal in December 2022, Frendrup continued to be a crucial presence in midfield under the new head coach, Alberto Gilardino. His consistent performances were instrumental as Genoa secured promotion back to Serie A with two games remaining in the season.

2.3.3. Return to Serie A and recent performance

Frendrup continued his strong performances upon Genoa's return to the top flight in the 2023-24 season. On February 17, 2024, he scored his first goal in the Italian top flight, finding the net in a 1-1 home draw against Napoli. Just over a week later, on February 29, he extended his contract with Genoa until 2028, showcasing the club's commitment to his long-term future.

He completed his first full Serie A season with two goals and five assists in 37 appearances. His statistics highlighted his defensive prowess: he led the league in both balls won, with 122, and successful tackles, with 131. Despite his high defensive output, he received only six yellow cards throughout the season. Additionally, he ranked sixth in Serie A for duels won, with 215, and was among the top eight players for interceptions, recording 50. Furthermore, Frendrup was consistently among the top four players in the league for distance covered during matches. Genoa finished 11th in the league table, 14 points clear of the relegation zone. His outstanding performances garnered interest from several top European clubs during the summer of 2024, with media reports linking him to Liverpool. However, he ultimately remained with Genoa.