The level of scrutiny at Manchester United is such that, often, it can only take a few weeks for a new signing to be written on and labelled a flop.
Manuel Ugarte and Matthijs de Ligt are finding out the hard way that life as a Red Devil is not always fun.
The duo were criticised heavily following Sunday’s 3-0 reverse against Tottenham Hotspur, even if most Manchester United fans are willing to cut them some clack.
There is an acceptance growing that even a peak-N’Golo Kante and Fabio Cannavaro could line up in this baffling Erik ten Hag system and still find themselves chasing shadows.
With Ten Hag’s future anything but certain, reports are suggesting that De Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui could be reunited with ex-Bayern Munich boss Thomas Tuchel at Old Trafford.
Another Allianz Arena export, meanwhile, is already facing a battle of his own to win over the doubters. And in truth, while Joshua Zirkzee’s actual performances have been pretty impressive so far, the cynics do have a point when questioning whether the £35 million striker really has that innate ruthless streak he needs to truly thrive at Man United.
Manchester United move labelled a mistake for Joshua Zirkzee
Zirkzee has not scored since that debut goal against Fulham.
It’s certainly not as if he has been short of chances, either, even if his rather middling scoring record in Serie A hardly suggested that Zirkzee was likely to emulate the numbers of compatriots Ruud van Nistelrooy and Robin van Persie.
Man United fought off competition from AC Milan to sign Zirkzee back in July.
And, with United’s season careering towards ‘write-off’ territory already, Rossoneri legend Ruud Gullit is wondering if Zirkzee made the wrong choice snubbing a Milan side closing in on the top of the Serie A table after three wins in a row.
“Zirkzee would have done better to say yes to Milan instead of moving to England with Manchester United,” Gullit, the 1987 Ballon D’Or winner, tells Gazzetta dello Sport.
“He knew Serie A. And, for his development, another couple of seasons in this league would have been very useful, but in a top club like Milan [rather than Bologna].
“Now, instead, he is in a club that has many problems and that does not facilitate his growth.”
It is certainly difficult to make the argument that Zirkzee, Ugarte, De Ligt and co are likely to fulfil their obvious potential unless an embattled Ten Hag is either replaced, or finds a way to stop the rot and fast.
United owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe hardly offered a ringing endorsement of Ten Hag on Friday, amid reports suggesting the Premier League giants offered the job to Inter Milan boss Simone Inzaghi.
Former Bologna star Zirkzee backed to win over United critics
Zirkzee is yet to strike up the sort of flowing partnership with Marcus Rashford that many supporters had been looking forward to, meanwhile. Man United’s number ten stuck on the touchline and struggling to influence proceedings near the opposition goal.
Former Bologna teammate Sam Beukema, however, insists that Zirkzee will seize the chance to showcase his talents if put in the position to do so.
“People constantly asked me last season; ‘Who’s the best striker in Serie A?’ And I always said; ‘I play against him in training every day – it’s Joshua!’,” Beukema tells Goal.
“We had so many great battles. I’d like to think I made life difficult for him because he definitely made life difficult for me.
“He’s so unpredictable because his technique is so good and he’s so strong. He’s a great finisher, too, and really fast over the first few metres. He really has everything you need to be a top striker, but it’s his technique and his strength that give him such an advantage.
“It’s so hard to get around him to get the ball off him. He’s just such a good player, and a really good friend, too.
“I’ve no doubt he’ll do well at United.”
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