Joshua Zirkzee’s time at Manchester United has quickly turned sour, just six months after his arrival. Old Trafford has become a pressure cooker, and the Dutch striker has been left disillusioned, particularly after being substituted and jeered by fans just 30 minutes into the recent home defeat against Newcastle.
Manager Ruben Amorim attempted to explain his decision, stating, “I spoke with Josh to express my view. I always think about the team, and at that moment, it was necessary for him to come off. I have to look at the bigger picture, and sometimes at the player who is struggling. I saw him during the week, and that’s the most important thing. But I felt we were suffering, so I decided to bring on another midfielder to have more possession. For me, it was a really, really, really difficult decision.”
The same disastrous evening also highlighted United’s struggles to operate efficiently in the transfer market due to financial fair play constraints. Essentially, the club needs to sell before they can buy.
According to Calciomercato, Zirkzee is reportedly keen on a return to Italy, specifically to reunite with his former Bologna coach Thiago Motta, who has since moved to Juventus. However, the major obstacle is that Juventus’ squad primarily needs defensive reinforcements, meaning they can only offer a loan deal with an option to buy.
The ball is now in Manchester United’s court to decide whether they’re willing to part ways with their big summer signing after such a short period. As highlighted by Corriere dello Sport, Zirkzee would be an ideal fit for Juventus, either as a lone striker or as a partner for Vlahovic, given his versatility that flourished under Motta’s guidance at Bologna.
This adaptability had previously kept AC Milan interested for several weeks before they ultimately opted for Morata. Now, it remains to be seen whether United will facilitate Zirkzee’s potential move to Turin, allowing him to rediscover his form in a familiar league under a manager who knows how to utilize his talents best.