Turn After Sensing Change Is Coming—Report

Joshua Zirkzee is reportedly now “eager to stay” at Manchester United, believing he will get more playing time once European football returns to the club’s schedule next season.

Zirkzee has only played 546 minutes across all competitions so far in 2025–26, with just four Premier League starts to his name. The Red Devils have had no UEFA action this season and were knocked out of both domestic cups at the earliest opportunity, taking away a significant number of games.

It was previously thought the Dutchman was interested in leaving—perhaps back to Serie A after a successful spell with Bologna—to give himself a chance of going to the World Cup this summer.

However, that opportunity appears to be gone. There are less than three months until the World Cup and Zirkzee has not been selected by his national team for 18 months—since November 2024. Leaving with an eye on the tournament no longer carries any motivation.

According to the Daily Mail, Zirkzee is “determined” to stay. While that doesn’t guarantee his continuation, the 24-year-old isn’t looking to leave in a way that other fringe players might be. United are also expected to prioritize recruiting in other positions in the transfer market, which should mean there is no additional competition for forward places.

If United do wish to offload Zirkzee, the consequence of which would have to be signing a replacement forward, it would need to be the club’s decision against the player’s wishes.

Extra Matches Coming Zirkzee’s Way

United’s will finish 2025–26 having played only 40 matches, the fewest times the team has been on the pitch in a single season since 1914–15.

But finishing in the Premier League’s top five will change things. Getting into the Champions League, which now looks very likely, will add a minimum of eight matches to next season’s calendar. Progressing beyond the league phase, requiring a top-24 finish, means at least one knockout tie.

Advancing through even just a few rounds of the Carabao Cup and FA Cup, which obviously hasn’t been the case this season, could also easily add on five or six matches.

Those greater demands automatically require a deeper squad than United have needed in recent months. A player like Zirkzee, who thrived in Italy, could also be well suited to the European game.

Zirkzee: Old Trafford Is Incredible

Perhaps underlining a desire to stay, Zirkzee himself recently expressed his strong feelings for Old Trafford, which he says doesn’t compare to any other stadium.

“When they start singing ‘United Road’ before the game … you sometimes you just look around and you’re like, ‘f------ hell, I’m playing in Old Trafford.’ It’s very special, you can just feel it,” he told club media.

“This type of energy, aura that hangs around the stadium with the history, the great players that have been in this club. It’s just incredible, the stadium, the fans. There’s really nothing like this, I think, anywhere on this planet.”

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