Star Manchester United Player Aims to Leave Club to Reunite with Ex-Manager Following Ruben Amorim's Critique -

Joshua Zirkzee, the underperforming player at Manchester United, is reportedly looking to leave his current club with hopes of rejoining his former manager Thiago Motta at Juventus.

At just 23 years old, Zirkzee has managed to score only once in 18 appearances since his £36.5 million transfer from Bologna last summer.

Joshua Zirkzee aims to move from Man Utd to reunite with Thiago Motta
Credit: Getty

Former Bologna manager Motta is at the helm of Juventus
Credit: Alamy

The Dutch forward has been unable to secure a consistent position in United’s starting lineup, facing multiple coaching changes, including Erik ten Hag, Ruud van Nistelrooy, and the current manager Ruben Amorim, who has voiced his dissatisfaction amidst recent critiques.

As per La Gazzetta, Zirkzee is contemplating a return to Italy as soon as January.

Prior to his time at Old Trafford, he registered 14 goals in 53 matches for Bologna.

Although not known for being a prolific scorer, Zirkzee was praised for his playmaking abilities, which played a crucial role in Bologna’s qualification for the Champions League last season.

During his two years at Bologna, he was under the management of Motta, the former player for Barcelona, Inter Milan, and PSG, who is currently leading Juventus.

Reports indicate that Zirkzee is keen on making the move to Turin and rejoining Motta next year.

Juventus is reportedly interested in solidifying a deal, having had an unbeaten streak in Serie A.

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The club aims to negotiate a loan deal with United for the remainder of the season, with conversations about a permanent transfer potentially taking place next summer.

Ruben Amorim moved by Old Trafford welcome in win over Bodo/Glimt

Ruben Amorim has criticized Zirkzee
Credit: Getty

For United to agree to such a transfer, they will likely need to source a replacement first.

The club has faced challenges in its recent transfer dealings due to PSR and FFP regulations.

This implies that United may only be able to pursue a temporary striker, which is a challenging endeavor given the current market conditions.

Nevertheless, Amorim’s dissatisfaction with Zirkzee’s output could allow him to target a player of his choosing.

After Amorim’s debut as manager, which ended in a 1-1 draw against Ipswich, he expressed concerns about Zirkzee’s understanding of the No. 9 role.

Amorim remarked: “Decision-making is crucial; at this level, players shouldn’t need specialized coaching for the fundamentals. You must maintain possession and know when to move the ball forward. At pivotal moments, especially towards the end of matches, Josh has to be in positions for potential crosses.”