- Manchester United striker given limited game time
- Zirkzee unable to find footing in English football
- Wanted to leave on loan to boost World Cup hopes
According to Ben Jacobs, Joshua Zirkzee only wanted to leave in January to get game time to boost his World Cup chances. The Dutchman is believed to want to stay and fight for his place, impress the new manager and get more opportunities.
Jacobs also claimed in an interview with The United Stand:
“If he’s not getting enough game time to do that, he will see that he has to move on. With new arrivals it’s hard to see where Zirkzee starts, which could see Man United being honest with him about a move.”
Zirkzee might be playing for his future in the final few months of the ongoing season. He’s currently second-choice behind Benjamin Sesko and doesn’t look likely to forge his way into Michael Carrick’s starting lineup anytime soon.
Zirkzee at United
The past 20 months have not been kind to Zirkzee. After joining from Bologna for £36.5m, the young Dutchman looked to have refound his footing at the highest level since leaving Bayern Munich in 2022.
Just a month earlier, he had earned his first call-up to the Netherlands squad, making his debut in a 2-1 European Championship quarter-final win over Turkey.
The signs were positive when he struck an 87th-minute winner against Fulham on his debut after coming off the bench. A euphoric introduction, yet over the following months, his form began to unravel.
Erik ten Hag lost his job, and Zirkzee failed to reach the levels many had anticipated. A particularly grim moment came on 30 December 2024, when United fell 2-0 to Newcastle at Old Trafford, and the Dutchman faced boos as he left the pitch in the 33rd minute after a dismal display.
Over the past year and a few months, however, signs of improvement have emerged. At times, Zirkzee has shown genuine spark. His mazy dribble past William Saliba in the FA Cup third round stands out—a moment of real quality that left one of the world’s best defenders exposed.
Zirkzee has also found the net against Crystal Palace and Wolves this season. He also provided the assist for Matheus Cunha against Leeds in the Premier League to draw United level.
Yet the numbers still frustrate. He has featured just 18 times in the league this season, and under Michael Carrick, he has made only four appearances, totalling just 28 minutes of action.
What’s next for Zirkzee
At 24 years of age—turning 25 next month—Zirkzee has already played in three of Europe’s top five leagues. Only in his second season at Bologna did he really hit his stride.
Masterful at his feet, Zirkzee moves with rare grace for a 6ft 4in striker, gliding past defenders with subtle shifts and soft touches. But aesthetic quality alone does not secure a starting berth at United.
Should he remain at the club? The decision rests with the player and INEOS who also need to decide if his coach will be Carrick or another candidate.
United still require depth behind Sesko, yet with Bryan Mbeumo currently rotating with the Slovenian. Zirkzee faces a steep climb for minutes, and while the talent exists, he simply needs the right environment to unlock it.
