Zirkzee scores for the Netherlands and sends a message to Juventus and Fiorentina

Joshua Zirkzee was the decisive man for the Netherlands in the Nations League, scoring the winning goal against Serbia in the second half. At the same time, at Manchester United his playing time fell to just over an hour in total across all competitions.

In his first year at Manchester United, Zirkzee logged just over sixty minutes of play, a figure that highlights the difficulty of establishing himself in the lineup. The lack of space led him to consider a possible transfer already in January.

Some players involved with their national teams during the league break returned to their clubs with injuries or physical issues, but the Nations League matches also highlighted who is not finding playing time in this first part of the season. Zirkzee was one of the most evident protagonists.

Against Greece he came on in the last twenty minutes, while in the next match against Serbia he played the entire second half. It was precisely in that second half that he found the decisive goal that sealed the final victory for the Netherlands. The performance strengthened his role in Xavi’s new the Oranje.

Continuity Priority

The striker said his priority is to play consistently, so the coming months will be decisive to determine whether he will get more minutes at Manchester United. If not, a transfer will be considered in January to ensure regular playing time.

Interest from Juventus and Fiorentina

During the latest negotiations, Zirkzee was linked mainly to Serie A clubs, in particular Juventus and Fiorentina. Last summer the two clubs negotiated with the player; Fiorentina could have completed the transfer, but Zirkzee chose to wait for the response from the Bianconeri. Juventus then opted for other choices, partly due to the gap in valuation with Manchester United, as noted by Ricky Massara. Zirkzee’s contract runs until June 2029, his net salary is about €3.5 million per season and the Red Devils are asking around €35 million, an amount that Fiorentina had already included in the summer bid.

The striker’s future remains uncertain and will depend on the minutes he gets before the market reopens. If playing time remains limited, scenarios away from Manchester United could emerge, with possible destinations in Italy.