Joshua Zirkzee has revealed he’s always wanted a different Manchester United shirt number other than his current No. 11.
Joshua Zirkzee has not had the most emphatic of seasons at Manchester United since the arrival of Benjamin Šeško and Bryan Mbeumo.
Initially signed in 2024 to provide ex-player Rasmus Højlund with competition, the Dutchman had a slow start to life, although he picked up in form toward the back end of last season under Rúben Amorim prior to an unfortunate hamstring injury.
With United revolutionising their attack last summer, the small number of games the club has had without European football has meant that the Dutch striker has failed to secure any significant minutes in Red.
Despite goals against Crystal Palace and Wolves, Zirkzee has found himself playing just 492 minutes in the Premier League this season.
Zirkzee reveals his favourite shirt number
Despite his lack of game time, Zirkzee is still considered an important and popular part of the dressing room and recently featured on United’s Inside Carrington podcast.
A series of fan questions was handed to the striker and Mbeumo, to which Zirkzee revealed that, despite holding the No. 11 kit at Old Trafford, he would actually pick Luke Shaw’s No. 23 if he had the chance.
Yeah, but Luke has it,” Zirkzee replied when asked if he has a favourite kit number. Further, he was asked if basketball legend Michael Jordan had any influence on this.
“I think, I’m pretty sure there is,” he replied. “I just wore it when I was at Anderlect, and that kind of stuck with me. But ever since, there’s never been a team that had No. 23 [available].”
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Zirkzee could be sold this summer
While Amorim was still in charge, Zirkzee was reportedly one of three United players desperate to leave the club in January due to a lack of game time, alongside Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte.
However, once the former head coach was sacked, all three chose to stay until at least the end of the season. Still, rumours are still rife surrounding Zirkzee’s long-term future.
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“I think for Joshua Zirkzee there will be movements in the summer with several clubs showing interest in the player who is being super professional,” transfer expert Fabrizio Romano recently explained.
“He’s showing his commitment to Man United until the very end of the season, even if he’s not playing much. Then, at the end of the season, it will probably be time to try play more, find more game time.”
Zirkzee has been closely linked with a move back to Italy, with AS Roma of interest, although the likes of Juventus and Napoli have also been credited with interest of late, too.
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