‘I hope he leaves’ – Ruud Gullit tells £37m star to force Man Utd exit after transfer mistake

Dutch legend Ruud Gullit has urged Joshua Zirkzee to find a way out of Manchester United before the January transfer window closes.

Zirkzee did not start any of United’s first 11 league matches of the season but injuries to Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha opened the door again, starting games against Everton, Crystal Palace and West Ham United.

His return to the starting XI was short-lived however, failing to start the last eight games since. The returns of Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo from the Africa Cup of Nations, coupled with United’s exit from FA Cup, mean there will be intense competition for places in the 17 games they have left this season.

Zirkzee has been keen to leave Old Trafford, desperate for first-team football to ensure he is in contention for the Netherlands squad heading to the World Cup this summer.

Roma have held talks with the player but director of sport Frederic Massara revealed last week United have called off any proposed deals this month following Ruben Amorim’s departure. Michael Carrick is in charge until the end of the season with a new permanent boss to arrive in the summer.

Gullit has long had doubts over Zirkzee’s chances of success at Old Trafford and believes he made a mistake moving to Old Trafford when he left Bologna in 2024.

And the Dutch legend believes a move to Serie A to join a ‘better team in Italy’ could still be on the cards, pointing to Scott McTominay’s success at Napoli as an example of what he can achieve in Serie A.

‘I saw that Roma maybe wanted to take him and I hope that he will leave,’ Gullit told Metro via FootItalia.

‘For me, there was always a doubt that it was the right decision to go to Manchester United. I think he should have stayed in Serie A. He was doing well with Bologna and I think he should have gone to a better team in Italy.

‘For him it would have been much better. Manchester United have to figure out what that vibe is there, because something is wrong there. The energy is not good, it doesn’t feel good at all.

‘Look at Scott McTominay. It is unbelievable how well McTominay has done since he left Old Trafford. It’s incredible, it’s fantastic to watch. At United he was more like a 12th man, than he was a player and look how he has flourished, just playing every game is so important.’

While there have been flashes of brilliance, Zirkzee’s time at United has ultimately been undermined by his poor goal return.

He contributed seven goals and three assists following his £37m from Bologna last season, scoring just twice this term.