Joshua Zirkzee’s time at Manchester United looks to be coming to an abrupt crossroads. According to Voetbal International, the Dutch striker is determined to leave Old Trafford in January – either on loan or permanently – after being frozen out by Rúben Amorim.
The 24-year-old, who was a regular starter last season, has played just 82 minutes across four appearances this campaign. That lack of action has left him disillusioned and questioning Amorim’s decision to cast him aside so suddenly.
For Zirkzee, the stakes are higher than club football. His dream is to make the Netherlands squad for the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico. But with strikers like Emmanuel Emegha and Mexx Meerdink already ahead of him in the Oranje pecking order, he knows he must secure regular football elsewhere if he is to reignite his international hopes.
Zirkzee stunned by Amorim’s snub
Last season, Zirkzee featured in 32 Premier League matches, often battling with Rasmus Højlund for the starting spot. Fast-forward 12 months, and he finds himself watching on as Benjamin Šeško and Matheus Cunha – both expensive arrivals this summer – dominate the minutes up front.
“There would be a lot of disbelief among the player about the way in which he has suddenly been sidelined by Amorim,” reported Voetbal International
That sense of disbelief has quickly turned into a desire to leave, with Zirkzee convinced that remaining on the fringes at United could cost him his international ambitions.
Serie A return on the cards?
Zirkzee’s stock remains high in Italy after his breakthrough spell at Bologna, and top Serie A clubs are monitoring his situation closely. A winter switch back to Serie A is seen as a realistic option, particularly with Napoli showing how former United strikers like Højlund and Scott McTominay have revived their careers in Italy.
Sources in the Netherlands suggest Zirkzee has already set his sights on a move that guarantees him first-team football in 2026, keeping him in contention for Oranje’s World Cup squad.
Stats snapshot – Joshua Zirkzee 2025/26
| Stat (2025/26) | Zirkzee |
|---|---|
| Appearances | 4 |
| Minutes played | 82 |
| Goals | 0 |
| Assists | 0 |
source: Voetbal International / Manchester United stats – 6 October 2025
These numbers underline the issue: Amorim has barely given Zirkzee a chance to influence matches.
Analyst verdict: crossroads in career
FootballPlace analyst John William says Zirkzee’s desire to move is logical:
“Last season he was a reliable option, this season he is almost invisible in Amorim’s plans. At 24, Zirkzee cannot afford to sit on the bench in what should be his peak years. A return to Serie A would make sense – it’s a league that suits his style, and he has unfinished business there.”
Key insights
- Zirkzee has played only 82 minutes for United this season.
- He was a starter in 32 league matches last season under Erik ten Hag.
- Amorim now prefers Šeško and Cunha up front, leaving Zirkzee sidelined.
- The striker wants a January move to boost his World Cup chances with the Netherlands.
- Serie A clubs are circling, with a return to Italy strongly possible.
What’s next for Zirkzee and United?
United face a decision in January: hold on to an unhappy striker or sanction a move that could benefit both parties. Zirkzee’s determination to leave is clear, and with suitors in Serie A ready to pounce, his Old Trafford stay may end sooner than expected.
For Zirkzee, the next six months will define whether he remains on the margins of Amorim’s squad or reignites his career in time to secure a ticket to the 2026 World Cup.
👉 Should Manchester United cash in on Joshua Zirkzee this winter, or give him another chance under Amorim?
1 Comment (last comment by Adem)
First read message
By Adem 8 Oct 2025 09:07
Still young, this will be another Hojlund case, bagging goals in the Serie A. But maybe thats what he needs, a slower competition to build his trust. But I dont think United will sell him or let him leave, they dont have another striker on the bench and you cant play 50 games with Sesko.
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