Joshua Zirkzee remains a dream signing for Juventus but Manchester United will first need to accept they made a mistake buying him.
Tuttosport and journalist Vladimiro Cotugno cover the situation around the Dutch striker today and how he’s very much a square peg in a round hole for Manchester United.
Zirkzee has had a difficult start to life at Manchester United since joining them from Bologna in the middle of July.
He’s managed one goal in 11 appearances to date and appears to be an ill fit in the squad and the system Erik ten Hag is employing.
The Manchester United boss has been insistent that Zirkzee is not a number nine but more of a ten or a creative midfielder, which has raised eyebrows given United already had Bruno Fernandes in that position.
What they really needed was a clinical goalscorer to compete with Rasmus Hojlund and many thought Zirkzee was being signed to provide that.
Instead, he’s been played as the ten, raising eyebrows across Old Trafford and leading to plenty of criticism about his performances.
“After a summer of revolution, in which Cristiano Giuntoli followed the English winger (Sancho) like a cherry on top of his market cake, now another is emerging from the black and white horizon, and he’s playing for United,” he said.
“He’s an attacker who, if that’s the case, is an absolute Motta fan, who has given him value and has been named a top player in the exceptional season in Bologna, and who has had a terrible experience at Manchester United, coming straight out of the game and from the back of his mind.
“We are talking about three things. The first is that, given Bremer’s terrible injury and the need to play in defence, Juventus absolutely need an alternative attacking midfielder in January.
“The second is that Zirkzee can become a black and white reality only if United decide to give him up and accept that they’ve made the wrong move. The Red Devils clearly need a finisher, not an attacking midfielder like the Dutchman.
“Thirdly, and this is what makes Juventus’ fans dream, is that the Dutchman would fit perfectly into Motta’s playing style, who would find himself having, in the second decisive part of the season, an absolute shot to play in Italy and in Europe.”
