Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee may be returning to Italy this summer following a disappointing season with the Red Devils. The former Bologna player joined Manchester United in the summer of 2024 for a fee of £37.5 million, but his stint under manager Erik ten Hag was short-lived as Ten Hag was dismissed in October.
After Ten Hag’s departure, Zirkzee faced challenges under new manager Ruben Amorim, who was initially skeptical of the player’s abilities. Despite an inconsistent first season, Zirkzee managed to win the appreciation of the Old Trafford crowd due to his work ethic and technical skills.
Agent offers Joshua Zirkzee to Roma & Juventus
In contrast to his previous season, the Bayern Munich academy graduate experienced limited opportunities in the 2025/26 campaign, finding himself at the bottom of the attacking hierarchy after the arrivals of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, and Benjamin Sesko.
| Zirkzee’s Stats in 25/26 | Appearances (Starts) | Minutes | Goals | Assists |
| Premier League | 24 (5) | 609′ | 2 | 1 |
| FA Cup | 1 (0) | 28′ | 0 | 0 |
| Carabao Cup | 1 (0) | 8′ | 0 | 0 |
| Total | 26 (5) | 645′ | 2 | 1 |
Zirkzee was already suggested to be making a return to Italy, with several clubs interested, although United manager Michael Carrick was keen to retain him as a squad option.
However, this situation may change over the summer, as the 25-year-old striker seeks to reignite his career. According to reports from Tuttosport, Zirkzee’s agent, Kia Joorabchian, is actively searching for a new club and has presented his client to both Roma and Juventus.
Roma had previously tried to sign Zirkzee in January, but opted for Aston Villa’s Donyell Malen instead. Now that the club has secured a Champions League spot, they are looking to strengthen their squad.
On the other hand, Juventus, having settled for a Europa League position after finishing sixth, plan to enhance their attack, although Tottenham loanee Randal Kolo Muani remains their primary target.
Should Man United & Zirkzee part ways?
At 25, Zirkzee is expected to feature regularly, if not as a starter. Unfortunately, a prominent role at Manchester United seems unlikely at this stage of his career.
If he chooses to remain with the club, he may receive more playing time than this past season, especially with Manchester United back in the Champions League and aiming to progress in domestic competitions.
Despite this, it might not be sufficient to persuade Zirkzee to extend his stay at United.
A departure could be beneficial for all parties: Zirkzee would have the opportunity to pursue a starting position elsewhere, while Manchester United could seek a replacement that aligns with Michael Carrick’s strategy, whether that be a dedicated center-forward to compete with Sesko or a versatile player capable of fulfilling multiple roles.