Mocked Man Utd flop demands to leave this month

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 5 Jan 2025 08:44 GMT
• 3 min read

Joshua Zirkzee has demanded to leave Man Utd this month after he was mocked in the 2-0 defeat at home to Newcastle on Monday.

Zirkzee was subbed off after just 33 minutes as United suffered their fourth straight defeat in a row under Ruben Amorim.

The Dutchman was booed and jeered as he walked straight down the tunnel rather than sit with the rest of his teammates.

He was reportedly reduced to tears so distraught was he at his humiliation at the hands of Amorim and the fans.

Gazzetta dello Sport report that Zirkzee has instructed his agent Kia Joorabchian to find him a new club this month, so devastated is he with how he was treated against Newcastle.

Joorabchian is already in talks with Juventus, who are desperate to sign a striker and are favourites to bring in the Dutchman on an initial loan.

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Zirkzee joined Man Utd this past summer in a €42.5 million move from Bologna.

The 23-year-old Zirkzee was one of the standout players in Serie A last season, and he was often compared to former Milan and Barcelona star Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

But he is yet to show that form at Old Trafford.

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The striker scored on his Premier League debut against Fulham but he has struggled badly since then and took months until he scored another goal.

He has played sporadically under new United manager Amorim but has continuted to disappoint.

Juventus are the favourites to sign Zirkzee on loan in January as the Dutchman worked successfully with Bianconeri manager Thiago Motta at Bologna last season.

Zirkzee at Bologna

Zirkzee led Bologna to a shock qualification into this season’s Champions League under Motta.

Zirkzee delivered 12 goals and seven assists in all competitions as Bologna finished fifth in Serie A.

He was the key man for a Bologna team who performed well above their weight under Motta to qualify for the Champions League.

Standing at 6ft 4in, Zirkzee is a giant of a striker who at Bologna was expert at holding up the ball and bringing others into play.

Zirkzee went to Euro 2024 with Netherlands but barely featured under Ronald Koeman.