DUBLIN — I will die on this hill: there is a real player in Joshua Zirkzee.
The Manchester United forward is exactly the type of player who relishes pre-season. With the pressure off, he glides around the pitch like Marty McFly on a hoverboard, revelling in showcasing his full back catalogue of fleet-footed skills.
When in pre-season mode, the goals flow. Another fine finish, this time a first-time strike in United’s 1-1 draw with Leeds in Dublin, continued Zirkzee’s decent run of form as we approach the start of the new Premier League campaign.
In these moments, when he is his true self, United supporters can see what he is capable of. Last season’s debut campaign was so stop-start – the club playing fewer games than ever and Zirkzee restricted largely to short cameos – that it was impossible for him to find any real rhythm.
By allowing Zirkzee to leave now – Juventus are lurking with intent – United would be letting go of a skill set nobody else in the squad possesses. Not even captain Bruno Fernandes.
