AC Milan were very close to signing Joshua Zirkzee in the 2024 summer mercato. However, he ended up heading to England, where Manchester United were waiting.
The mercato can be a cruel game sometimes, and Milan experienced that with Zirkzee. It seemed for months leading up to the summer that he would arrive at Milanello, but a deal could not be agreed despite prolonged efforts.
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In fact, the Rossoneri were even considering signing his brother to sweeten the deal, but issues with comissions and wages meant that the Dutchman headed to England, after Manchester United swooped in late.
Gullit, Zirkzee and Milan
The move, as most see it, has not gone well for either party. Zirkzee’s career has stalled, and the Red Devils have preferred to use several others ahead of him. Today, Ruud Gullit offered his opinion on the move, and what he had hoped for the striker.
“From my point of view, he should have stayed in Italy. He was doing really well at Bologna and I was hoping he would go to Milan,” he told Metro (via Video Gamer).
“I think as soon as he went to Manchester United, it was a wrong move. For many players, joining Manchester United has been a mistake, and once they leave, they play well everywhere else in Europe.
“Go back to Italy on loan if you can. Just play football, he’s a good player, but right now it’s tough at Manchester United.”
With the Rossoneri looking to sign a loanee striker in January possibly, perhaps Gullit could get his wish.
Hahahaha I knew this from the beginning that he made a mistake and a big one for that matter
Fulkrug, now, Zirkzee. Names of players that once turned their backs on us, now popping up. We need a striker; but, do we need any of these guys? Milan needs a good striker at this moment. Also, we need a player whose heart is with us, not one looking for a place to recuperate.
Id take them on a discount now if they are healthy. Zirkzee must have wanted Milan to some degree before but football is a buisness. And yet agents keep sending careers to United to fizzle and die
I’m not a big fan of Zee but he CAN play with his back to goal and has good ball control at his feet.
Yes, I think he would do well in Allegri’s system. Ironically, I think Morata would also have done well in Allegri’s system.
I don’t like him now because they choose money over Milan and will do the same in the future
Why do you assume it’s about money? Maybe it was about the league…Premiere League is considered the top League in the world by most, maybe that’s why he chose it. It’s not like he went to Saudi Arabia.
Also the arrogance of some Milan fans that just think every player should accept far less money to come play at Milan is a little ridiculous.
Personally I think Zirkzee would be perfect for this team. Great footwork, good passer, good finisher. If Milan can in any way make it happen they should.
It was about the money though. His agent wanted astronomical fee (15M on a 40M transfer) after everything else was agreed months in advance. The release clause was already well above his current valuation, so it wasn’t a matter of the usual Milan management handling (negotiating for 1M for 3 months).
His famously heinous agent saw an opportunity in England, MU were desperate, though they also contemplated a lot about that fee and ultimately reduced it to 40M. In my view the management did well, you cannot spend 55M on a 1-season-star, especially with our budget.
“… reduced it to 10M* agent fee”, not 40..
Actually, he got more, more like 20 to 25M in comissions, the total sum reaching 60m . The press states 10m in order to hide man utd spending idiocracy. Milan did very well to give up on him, his agent just used Milan in order to get BPL offers, where he knew he could get more money out of it.
He’s really not a good finisher
Gim- Zirk swap…
Well, shame on him. His agent wanted to milk more money from him and he just tolled along.
If he had moved to Arsenal, for example, I wouldn’t have bothered. But Man U? I knew he was a goner afterwards. For his sake, I hope he can still play football.
him and his agent are nightmares. I’d stay away from him.
Sadly, football IS a business and we are in dreadful need of a player with his particular set of skills. If the chance presents itself, i say we stow the feelings and get him.
lately Utd. has been a graveyard where strikers go to ruin their careers. Milan should have tried harder for Hojlund.
He should blame his agent. His ‘signing bonus’ was ridiculous.
Since summer Allegri has wanted a classic centre forward, Zirkzee is more a false 9. So there is no need for him…
He was not the striker we needed, we need a proper no. 9.
Zirkzee is nice tricks and flicks but not a clinical finisher and plays a deeper role, we have 3 2nd strikers. It’s a centre forward we need.