Dutch legend Ruud Gullit has urged Joshua Zirkzee to return to Italy when the January transfer window reopens, insisting the forward made ‘the wrong decision’ joining Manchester United.
Zirkzee has not started a single Premier League match for United this term, managing just 82 minutes across four substitute appearances.
The 24-year-old arrived at Old Trafford from Bologna in the summer of 2024 for a fee of £36.5million, scoring just seven times in his debut season.
With Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha ahead of him in Ruben Amorim’s pecking order, Zirkzee’s lack of minutes has left him considering his options, open to leaving Manchester on loan when the transfer window reopens in January.
A numbers of players who have left United in the last year have rediscovered form away from Old Trafford with Scott McTominay an instant hit in Italy with Napoli last season with Rasmus Hojlund also showing early promise.
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Roma have emerged as one possible destination for Zirkzee ahead of the January window, with the former Bayern Munich youngster desperate to play regularly to ensure he is part of the Netherlands squad at next summer’s World Cup.
While there may be more opportunities at United in January with Mbeumo and Amad Diallo away on international duty at the Africa Cup of Nations, former Netherlands star Gullit believes Zirkzee is also best served returning to Italy.
‘I think from my point of view that he should have stayed in Italy, because he was really striving,’ Gullit told Metro courtesy if videogamer.com.
‘He was really doing well at Bologna and I was hoping that he would go to Milan. I think that as soon as he went to Manchester United, it was the wrong decision.
‘I mean, for a lot of players, moving to Manchester United has been the wrong decision. And whoever leaves them, plays well everywhere around Europe. I just hope that there’s a solution for him.
‘Go back to Italy on loan if you can. Just play football. He’s a good player. But at the moment, it’s difficult at Manchester United. They found a little form in the past couple of weeks and I hope for Manchester United that they continue that. Because a good Manchester United is good for the Premier League as well.’
No European football coupled with an embarrassingly early exit from the Carabao Cup means United are on a much lighter fixture schedule this season with opportunities for those not in Amorim’s regular starting XI scarce.
The same fate has befallen Kobbie Mainoo who is another still to start a Premier League match this season.
Mainoo asked to leave United on loan before the summer transfer window closed with Napoli eager to sign the England international in the New Year.
While Amorim insists he understands their frustrations, the United boss has suggested he is eager to keep both Mainoo and Zirkzee at the club.
‘There’s a World Cup. There are agents that listen to the players talking all the time,’ Amorim said.
‘So, I understand that but they are our players, and we need everyone to have a good season.’
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