I don’t know why you are trying to sign Gyökeres when you already have a striker that is better than him. He’s a Real Touch of Class if managed properly” – This is according to Former England Manager Fabio Capello as he Claims that Man United Already Have a Superior Striker to Gyökeres
Fabio Capello Unfazed by Manchester United Missing Out on Gyökeres, Believes They Already Have a Better Striker
Fabio Capello doesn’t see Manchester United’s failure to land Viktor Gyökeres as a setback, asserting that the club already has a more capable striker in their ranks.
Despite Rasmus Højlund’s underwhelming season, which led United to search for a more consistent goal scorer, Capello believes the answer might already be in their squad. The Red Devils have recently signed Matheus Cunha and are making strides to sign Bryan Mbeumo, but critics still argue that a true centre-forward is missing.
United have reportedly stepped up their interest in Gyökeres, but negotiations have stalled due to Sporting CP’s high asking price of over €70 million, compounded by disagreements between the club and the player’s agent. Recent reports even suggested that the Swedish striker prefers a move to Arsenal.
Capello, however, remains unconcerned. Writing for La Gazzetta dello Sport (via Juve FC), the former England and Real Madrid boss explained why he would rather see his former club Juventus pursue Joshua Zirkzee instead of Gyökeres.
“I would immediately choose Joshua Zirkzee. He’s shown real quality in Serie A,” Capello wrote. “He’d also come at a lower cost than Gyökeres, who despite scoring heavily at Sporting, is 27 and hasn’t proven himself in a top-tier league like ours.”
Capello referred to Zirkzee’s standout campaign at Bologna, where his performances played a key role in securing a Champions League spot for the club. After a difficult start at Manchester United, including a poor showing against Newcastle, Zirkzee has bounced back and is now a favorite among the fans.
While Gyökeres is a traditional striker known for his goal-scoring instincts, Zirkzee is more versatile, often dropping deep to participate in the build-up — making a direct comparison between the two complex.
Fabio Capello’s comments offer a striking perspective on Manchester United’s striker situation — and his firm backing of **Joshua Zirkzee over Viktor Gyökeres** underscores a growing narrative: maybe **United don’t need to splash €70m** on another forward after all.
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### 🔍 **Capello’s Take — Key Points**
* 🧠 **Prefers Zirkzee** to Gyökeres due to:
* **Younger age** (Zirkzee is 23, Gyökeres is 27)
* **Proven quality in a top league** (Zirkzee starred in Serie A with Bologna)
* **Lower cost** relative to Gyökeres’ €70m release clause
* ⚽ On **Rasmus Højlund**: Capello hints United **already have a better striker** than Gyökeres — strongly implying Højlund or possibly even **new signing Matheus Cunha** fits the bill better than the Sporting striker.
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### 🧩 United’s Current Striker Landscape:
| Player | Age | Style | 2023/24 Summary |
| ——————— | — | ————————— | ———————————— |
| **Rasmus Højlund** | 21 | Direct, athletic, poacher | 16 goals in all comps (streaky form) |
| **Matheus Cunha** | 25 | Mobile, dribbler, creator | 12 goals, 7 assists for Wolves |
| **Zirkzee (target)** | 23 | False 9, technical, fluid | 12 goals, 7 assists at Bologna |
| **Gyökeres (target)** | 27 | Physical 9, poacher, runner | 43 goals for Sporting (all comps) |
Capello’s point about **Gyökeres not yet proving himself in a top-tier league** like the Premier League or Serie A is critical. While Gyökeres dominated in Portugal, Zirkzee impressed **against elite Italian defences**, showing intelligence and adaptability.
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### 🔴 United’s Evolving Attack Under Amorim:
With **Cunha**, **Højlund**, **possibly Zirkzee**, and interest in **Bryan Mbeumo**, Amorim seems to favor:
* **Versatile forwards**
* **Technically gifted attackers** who can **press**, **drop deep**, and **combine**
* A more **fluid front line**, not reliant solely on a penalty-box striker like Gyökeres
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### 💬 Final Thoughts:
Capello’s statement isn’t just about preference — it speaks to *value*, *system fit*, and *long-term potential*. While Gyökeres is a lethal finisher, **Zirkzee may be more in line with Amorim’s footballing philosophy** and Manchester United’s long-term project.
Unless Sporting dramatically lowers their price or Gyökeres pushes for the move, **United shifting full focus to Zirkzee may be the smarter play**.
Would you like a side-by-side stat comparison of Zirkzee vs Gyökeres in areas like goals per game, pressing stats, and link-up play?
