Joshua Zirkzee reveals role Manchester City legend played in his Manchester United transfer

Joshua Zirkzee has revealed the role that Manchester City legend Vincent Kompany played in his £36 million transfer to Manchester United.

Last month, Joshua Zirkzee became the first player to sign for Manchester United since Sir Jim Ratcliffe and his INEOS team took over the club’s sporting activities in a £36 million deal from Bologna.

Although the 23-year-old was originally set to sign for AC Milan, Erik ten Hag‘s team were able to swoop in and secure the transfer for themselves due to their good relationship with the player’s representative, Kia Joorabchian.

Read More: £40m Manchester United transfer discussions have started with player “open” to move

Despite growing up in the Netherlands, Zirkzee has already played for multiple clubs across Europe. After coming through the ranks at Feyenoord, he walked out of the club to sign for Bayern Munich, making his debut at the age of 18 against Tottenham Hotspur.

He was part of the Bayern squad that won the Bundesliga, Champions League and German Cup Treble in 2020, but was loaned out to Parma and Anderlecht before joining Serie A side Bologna in 2022.

While at Anderlecht, he played under then-manager and Manchester City legend Vincent Kompany. Speaking to The Mirror, he revealed how Kompany’s impact on his career helped him to become the player that Manchester United wanted to sign.

“Kompany was the coach who explained so much to me about the game and the small details,” Zirkzee started. “That year under him was very important for my development, and he also made sure I played all the time.

“At Anderlecht, under the wings of Kompany, I took some significant steps forward during that season. Things went so much better for me. In my time at Bayern, I wasn’t that player. There I was too much in awe.

“I should have believed in myself more. Back then, I thought I was okay, but now I have a different mentality. I don’t know how else to explain it. I think back then, I wasn’t even half the player I am now.

“I thought I was good enough to become Bayern’s first striker right away, but I wasn’t ready for that at all. It was very good that I took a step back to find out what it really takes to succeed at the top.”

Zirkzee went on to explain that he is the type of player who likes to add flair and fun to his game, which are words that will rest well on the ears of Manchester United fans.

He said: “I want to play a pure game. Nutmegs, chops and back heels are moments that belong in football. That style has value for me. It’s the soccer kid in me because it’s supposed to be fun, too, isn’t it?

“You have to pick the right moments. It’s intuition. I think I have excellent skills. I spent a lot of time on that as a kid. But if I lose the ball, I want to regain it immediately with the team. But the fancy footwork is part of my game at the end of the day.

“I occasionally drop down to midfield. I don’t do that for myself but to help the team. I am what I call a false striker. Not a No 9, not a No 10. I am a 9.5! That’s my game. Maybe I’m a little different than others. But being different is good, right?”

Zirkzee has been issued the club’s No. 11 shirt for the forthcoming season and is expected to have his first minutes as a United player when they face Manchester City in the 2024 Community Shield on Saturday afternoon.

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