Why Joshua Zirkzee made Liverpool trip with Man United blessing

Why Joshua Zirkzee made Liverpool trip with Man United blessing

Joshua Zirkzee was given permission by Manchester United to travel to meet up with his former Bologna team-mates at their team hotel in Liverpool ahead of the Champions League clash with the Reds at Anfield

Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee made a trip to Liverpool before travelling with the squad to Porto. (Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images )

Manchester United's manager, Erik ten Hag, is believed to have allowed forward Joshua Zirkzee to journey to Liverpool to bid farewell to his ex-Bologna teammates. The Dutch striker, who was part of United's disappointing 3-0 Premier League loss to Tottenham at home on Sunday, seized the rare opportunity to meet his old mates as they flew into Merseyside for Wednesday's Champions League clash with the Reds at Anfield.

Nonetheless, he didn't want to make the hour-long trip to Bologna's team hotel in the North West without his club's consent, which was granted, despite the ongoing crisis at Old Trafford. The Mirror reports that after exchanging hugs and handshakes, Zirkzee spent time chatting with his former colleagues until about 10:30pm on Tuesday night, ahead of Thursday's Europa League journey to FC Porto.

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The centre-forward contributed to the Italian side's entry into Europe's top-tier club competition last season by scoring 11 goals in 34 Serie A matches.

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The 23-year-old had a whirlwind summer, finalising his £36.5million move to the Red Devils just five days after Holland's Euro 2024 semi-final loss to England in Dortmund. Despite this, the ex-Bayern Munich forward made it clear that Bologna would always be dear to him in a heartfelt statement released upon joining United.

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In July, he penned: "Grazie, Rossoblu. I can't really find the words to explain how much you all mean to me. The stadium, the city, this team, but especially the PEOPLE who will always have a special place in my heart. I hope that for all the support and trust that you gave me, I have given something back in return. Bologna is finally where it belongs and I will support and cheer for you from a distance! Ti Amo, Bolo. Forever."

Despite scoring a late winner on his debut against Fulham, Zirkzee's performances for United have quickly drawn criticism. Dutch football icon Frank de Boer didn't hold back in his critique of his fellow countryman following a lacklustre performance against Spurs, telling Viaplay: "Look at Joshua Zirkzee. He was having a nightmare.

"He was absolutely shocking. How many times does he make the wrong choices on the pitch? Okay, he did have one shot at goal, and the keeper saved it. But all in all, he was champion in losing the ball."

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He then continued: "During the warm-up before the game, I was watching him and he was shooting on goal, but he was blasting it anywhere but on target.

"Honestly, he did not hit the target once in the warm-up. That was terrible. When you are a good striker, you don’t have to blast every ball; you have to make sure your shots are in the corner. During the game, Marcus Rashford tried to shoot like that. Zirkzee never did."

Zirkzee has only managed to net one goal in six Premier League appearances so far and is yet to play alongside fellow forward Rasmus Hojlund as they both vie for a starting position.

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