Dutch media make their feelings clear on Joshua Zirkzee’s performance in Netherlands draw
Joshua Zirkzee, 23, has struggled to find form since his £36.5 million transfer from Bologna to Manchester United in July 2024. Despite a promising start, scoring on his debut in a 1-0 win over Fulham on August 16, the former Bayern Munich prospect has failed to score again and has mostly been limited to substitute appearances.
Nevertheless, Zirkzee earned a call-up to Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands squad for their Nations League matches against Hungary and Bosnia. While he didn’t feature against Hungary, he started in the match against Bosnia in Zenica on November 19. However, the game did not provide the breakthrough he might have hoped for.
When questioned about Zirkzee’s performance, Koeman declined to single him out, stating, “I am not going to talk about individual player performances.
The Dutch media, however, were less reserved in their assessments. *AD* gave Zirkzee a 5/10 rating, the lowest of any player, criticizing his lack of decisiveness in a clear chance before halftime. *De Telegraaf* rated him slightly higher at 6/10 but highlighted his missed opportunity in the 41st minute when he failed to convert a cut-back from close range.
The criticism pointed to his underwhelming display, with one report noting, “For Zirkzee, this should have been a moment to prove himself… but he mostly wandered around. His biggest weakness was revealed when he produced a weak shot from ten metres out instead of finishing decisively.”
Back at Manchester United, Zirkzee will now look to impress new head coach Ruben Amorim. With an away match against Ipswich Town on November 24, he will be eager to seize any opportunity to re-establish himself in the squad and rediscover his scoring touch.
Joshua Zirkzee’s struggles both at Manchester United and on the international stage with the Netherlands reflect the challenges of adapting to higher expectations after a big transfer. Since his £36.5 million move from Bologna in July 2024, Zirkzee’s initial promise—marked by a debut goal—has faded, leaving him searching for consistency.
His international outing against Bosnia in the Nations League highlighted similar struggles. Despite starting under Ronald Koeman, Zirkzee failed to capitalize on key opportunities, with Dutch media criticizing his lack of decisiveness. Ratings ranged from a 5/10 (*AD*) to a 6/10 (*De Telegraaf*), underscoring his failure to convert a critical chance before halftime. The performance painted a picture of a player still trying to find his footing at the highest level.
Now back in Manchester, Zirkzee faces a pivotal moment in his career. With Ruben Amorim newly at the helm, the away match against Ipswich Town on November 24 could be a chance for redemption. The forward will need to work on his confidence and clinical finishing to reclaim a more prominent role in United’s attack.
