AC Milan told to walk away from signing Man Utd’s Joshua Zirkzee by former manager

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Joshua Zirkzee faces an uncertain future at Manchester United due to a lack of playing time under Ruben Amorim.

No European football this season has helped Manchester United focus on the Premier League, but it also means less opportunity for fringe players to get minutes.

Ruben Amorim has admitted that Kobbie Mainoo deserves more minutes this season, but even the out-of-favour midfielder has played more minutes than Joshua Zirkzee in 2025/26.

With the 2026 World Cup around the corner, Zirkzee is open to leaving United as early as January in order to get minutes elsewhere.

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AC Milan are long-term admirers of Zirkzee and have been linked with a move for the Dutch striker in 2026.

Joshua Zirkzee is not a good fit for AC Milan

While Zirkzee has interest from West Ham, it seems his most likely destination will be in Italy.

However, ex-AC Milan player and coach Filippo Galli has urged his former side to stay away from signing Zirkzee.

Speaking to TuttoMercatoWeb, Galli said: “In my opinion, Joshua Zirkzee isn’t a player who would solve our problems.

“His goalscoring numbers speak for themselves: in 2021-22 alone, he scored 15 goals in 32 appearances for Anderlecht, while his goalscoring numbers have dropped dramatically in Bologna and now in Manchester.

“The Dutchman, though elegant and technically savvy (and being pushed towards AC Milan by my friend Ruud Gullit in a recent interview), isn’t a finisher, but more of a team-building striker, who enjoys dropping back to connect with his teammates and free up space, something he does very well thanks to his clean, attacking midfield style.”

Man United may block Joshua Zirkzee move

Despite Zirkzee failing to start for United this season, he remains an important part of Amorim’s squad.

United could block Zirkzee from leaving, especially after Benjamin Sesko’s knee injury against Tottenham.

READ MORE: Manchester United stars urge Joshua Zirkzee to stay, already a popular figure in the dressing room

There is hope that Sesko’s injury isn’t too severe, but if the Slovenian is sidelined, then Zirkzee is the only out-and-out striker available to Amorim.

United are confident Zirkzee would sell for around £36 million, but the 24-year-old will likely be denied a move away in January to maintain squad depth.