During the summer, AC Milan made attempts to sign Joshua Zirkzee after months of interest in the striker, but they were beaten to his signature by Manchester United. Former Rossonero Ruud Gullit believes this was the wrong move for the striker, though.
Milan’s pursuit of Zirkzee began in the early stages of the 2023/24 season, with scouts being sent to watch his game ahead of a potential January move. Eventually, the Rossoneri decided against a move then, instead targeting a move in the summer when they would probably have a new head coach.
When the summer rolled around, the Diavolo looked in prime position to add the Dutchman to their front line, and when it was suggested that he preferred a Serie A move rather than a move to the Premier League, it only boosted confidence.
Nevertheless, issues with commission fees meant Milan looked elsewhere as Manchester United swooped in, and Gullit stated in an interview today that this was the wrong decision.
And to think that in Morata’s place could have been Zirkzee, who has long been the Rossoneri’s first choice…
“Zirkzee would have done better to say yes to Milan instead of moving to Manchester United in England. He knew Serie A and another couple of seasons in this league would have been very useful for his maturation but at a top club like Milan. Now instead he is at a club that has so many problems and that does not facilitate his growth.
“I hope he manages to reverse the trend after an inevitable period of acclimatisation. He’s good, no doubt about that, but at United, it’s hard to do well at such a moment in history.”
