Manchester United forward Joshua Zirkzee has had a tough start to the season and faces an uncertain future.
Joshua Zirkzee signed for Manchester United from Bologna in 2024, and it has been a rollercoaster ride for the Dutchman.
While he showed promise in the second half of last season, Zirkzee has barely played in the 2024/25 season, with no starts at all to his name and just 82 minutes of game time.
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This has led to speculation that he could leave United in the January transfer window, to try and restore his World Cup 2026 hopes. He has been left out of both Netherlands international squads this season.
Bryan Mbeumo and Joshua Zirkzee in action high diving for Manchester United.
Photo by Matt McNulty/Getty Images
Roma links to Zirkzee
The club with the most interest in signing Joshua Zirkzee on loan is Roma, with Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport reporting their interest.
Amid the rumours, former Roma player Luciano Marangon, a star of the 80s, has given his view on the possibility of Zirkzee joining the club.
Marangon told TMW that he believes Zirkzee can be an asset to Roma if he plays like he did during his two seasons with Bologna.
“He’s a player who could be very useful to Roma. Perhaps a loan deal with part of his salary paid by Manchester United could become viable. If the Bologna player were to return, his qualities could be useful.
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“In my time, I went on loan from Napoli to Roma, and if you’re a serious professional, you can seize the opportunity.”
Zirkzee spell at United questioned
There is one big question that Marangon has about Joshua Zirkzee. He is concerned about his mentality.
Marangon pointed to Zirkzee’s struggles to hold down a starting spot at Manchester United, and questions why.
“I saw that he handled his English adventure poorly, having ended up losing the coach’s trust.
“The technical qualities are there, but I don’t know him and I don’t know what kind of mindset he has.”
Zirkzee has been unable to convince Ruben Amorim that he should play the striker role. And he missed preseason with injury, when there might have been an opportunity.
This has left him competing for one of the number 10 positions, but he is behind Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Mason Mount.
With no European football to rotate the line-up, opportunities could be few for Zirkzee to seize and win Amorim over, before the transfer window in January.