Any Dutchman – and certainly any striker – new to Manchester United is a little spoilt for choice when it comes to picking an idol to emulate.
Old Trafford has been a home to two of the greatest Oranje hitmen in history, after all.
First, there was Ruud van Nistelrooy. A striker so prolific that, over two decades on, his record of 44 goals in a single season remains untouched by any Manchester United player this side of the Century.
Robin van Persie came closer than most.
Arguably the main reason why Sir Alex Ferguson was afforded the luxury of bowing out as a Premier League winner, Van Persie is one of only two – the other being Marcus Rashford – to break the 30-goal barrier in the last decade.
Now, Joshua Zirkzee is not really a centre-forward in the Van Nistelrooy mould. A self-professed ‘nine and a half’, it would be a surprise if he was to put up Van Persie-esque numbers during his debut season at Man United either.
But the chance to follow in Van Persie’s footsteps, while honing his talents under new assistant coach Van Nistelrooy, has the £35 million summer signing from Bologna even more enthused to lead the line in that iconic red jersey.
Joshua Zirkzee starting strongly at Manchester United
“I want to keep it a secret!” Zirkzee told ViaPlay with a smile when asked what he had been working on alongside Van Nistelrooy on the training pitches at Carrington.
“(Being coached by a legendary poacher) is great. He’s been a striker. Detailed work, watching footage, looking back; The way he works with you, that’s very important.
“I can relate to that. You can learn a lot from him.”
While Zirkzee only has one goal in United colours so far, the omens look good.
Like Van Nistelrooy in 2001 and Van Persie in 2012, the former Bayern Munich and Feyenoord youngster marked his Old Trafford bow with a goal against Fulham.
Guiding a fizzed Alejandro Garnacho cross into the corner with 87 minutes on the clock, Zirkzee ensured that Man United would begin Erik ten Hag’s third season with three points on the board from day one.
And, in addition to Van Persie, the elegant 23-year-old also grew up pouring through video compilations of another Man United legend in Cristiano Ronaldo, as well as Arsenal icon Dennis Bergkamp.
“Cristiano Ronaldo, Robin van Persie, Dennis Bergkamp,” was Zirkzee’s response when asked to name the three strikers he idolised the most.
Striker hopes to double his Red Devils tally at Selhurst Park
Ahead of Saturday’s trip to Crystal Palace, a Man United side who put three past Southampton and seven past Barnsley this week are likely to start with Zirkzee leading the line again.
While he missed a couple of presentable chances at St Mary’s, the manner in which Zirkzee drops deep and links the play already looks to be benefitting Marcus Rashford and Amad Diallo, with the in-form Garnacho also looking to strike up a telepathic understanding with a striker labelled the best facilitator centre-forward in the game right now.
“He is just insanely good,” reporter Filip Joos, who watched Zirkzee closely during his time in Belgium with Anderlecht, told Play Sports on YouTube recently.
Joos feels that Man United have snapped up a player who would have been tailor made for Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City set-up.
“I don’t understand why Guardiola doesn’t get Zirkzee. I really don’t get it. Then, (Erling) Haaland would have a problem,” Joos argues.
“Not necessarily (with regards) goals, because Haaland scores 40. But put Zirkzee in that team, and Phil Foden scores one-and-a-half times as many as now.”
- READ MORE: Who is Marcus Rashford? Inside the life of Man Utd’s book-writing, government-tackling ace
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