Man Utd star 'made wrong decision' over transfer

Suraj Radia
Suraj Radia
  • 6 Nov 2025 20:51 GMT
  • 4 min read
Rúben Amorim, Manchester United
© IMAGO

One of Manchester United’s forgotten stars made the ‘wrong decision’ to join the club, according to a former Premier League and Dutch legend.

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United have struggled to find much consistency this season but, despite their mixed start to the campaign, Joshua Zirkzee has played just 82 minutes of Premier League action.

Current ETV
Player image Joshua Zirkzee
Joshua Zirkzee

F (C)

Man Utd logo

Man Utd

Joshua Zirkzee
Joshua Zirkzee

F (C)

Man Utd

Man Utd

€36.1M

ETV Range

€32.5M - €39.7M

The situation has led to Zirzkee being primed to leave United in January, just 18 months after his €42.5 million arrival from Bologna and former Netherlands international Ruud Gullit believes the forward should never have moved to Old Trafford.

“I think from my point of view that he should have stayed in Italy, because he was really striving,’ Gullit told Metro. “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.”

Zirkzee set for January transfer return to Italy

Zirkzee is likely to push for a move away from United in January in order to boost his chances of making the Netherlands squad for next summer’s World Cup.

Joshua Zirkzee has seen limited action for Manchester United this season.
© IMAGO - Joshua Zirkzee has seen limited action for Manchester United this season.

The 24-year-old played just eight minutes of football in October and has begun to accept he is not part of Ruben Amorim’s plans after a disappointing debut campaign with United.

Zirkzee scored just three times in 32 games last season and he has already received interest from a number of clubs in Italy, as well as Premier League teams such as West Ham.

United would prefer to sell Zirkzee permanently but they may find only loan offers on the table, particularly from Serie A sides, where the player is understood to be keen to return to.

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