23-year-old Dutch International forward Joshua Zirkzee completed his move to Manchester United from Serie A outfit Bologna in mid-July. After a strong season in Italy, in which the Amsterdam native proved pivotal to I Rossoblu securing Champions League football under the highly-rated coach Thiago Motta, Erik ten Hag and United’s newly-installed footballing structure moved quickly to secure Zirkzee’s services this summer. So what will the youngster offer to the Red Devils?
A Closer Look at Joshua Zirkzee: The ‘Serie A Star’ Who Offers Something New
What Are Zirkzee’s Strengths?
” I think what the USA has with basketball courts, we have in Holland with five-a-side pitches. It makes you tough, you have to be smarter, you have to find a way to keep up with guys who are bigger and stronger than you. I learned on the streets, and that’s where creativity comes to life”.
Zirkzee himself said it best. Similar to now-teammate Jadon Sancho, who honed his precocious footballing talents playing cage football in his native South London streets, the Dutchman learnt the basics of the game on the streets of Rotterdam, often against older and more physically developed players who weren’t afraid to use their size to their advantage.
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At 6’4 (1.90M), Zirkzee can combine a considerable physical profile of his own with impressive technical ability, often at his best when dropping deep into pockets of space in order to link play and combine with on-rushing midfielders or another striker. He is also capable of operating as a lone striker, doing so effectively last season under Motta, scoring 11 goals and providing five assists.
After bursting on the scene as an impact substitute in Bayern Munich’s treble-winning 2019/2020 campaign, the Netherlands international, who made his international debut at this summer’s Euro 2024, spent time on loan at Parma, where a knee ligament injury curtailed his involvement to just four substitute appearances, and Anderlecht, where he finished as the club’s top scorer in the 2021/2022 season with 16 strikes.
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Zirkzee’s eye for goal, as well as his ability to link play and provide an outlet in transition, could alleviate some of the burden on Rasmus Hojlund, all too often left isolated up front last season as the Red Devils toiled in front of goal, netting just 57 times in 38 Premier League games.
What Are Zirkzee’s Weaknesses?
As with any young player, the Bayern Munich academy graduate still has elements of his game to develop. Although his skillset should see him adapt to the rigours of the Premier League, there is still a question mark about the Dutchman’s ability to provide consistent output in a truly elite league. Indeed, plenty of players have been bought by English clubs off the back of one good season abroad and failed to deliver in a league that demands unrivalled intensity and endurance.
There is also the question of whether his tendency to drop into half spaces will align with United Captain Bruno Fernandes, who in the number 10 role tends to occupy those areas where the Dutchman does his best work. A change of formation by coach Ten Hag could see an exciting attacking unit come together as the season progresses.
The Final Verdict
As the first signing of the INEOS era at Manchester United, Zirkzee represents a new direction in recruitment for the Red Devils who, along with the signing of talented 18-year-old French centre-back Lény Yoro, have shown to be targeting younger players with a high-ceiling. Zirkzee fits this profile explicitly and has everything he needs to become a star at Old Trafford.
