Ruud Gullit Gives Transfer Advice to Man United Player Who Made the “Wrong Decision” by Moving to Old Trafford

Former Premier League star Ruud Gullit believes Joshua Zirkzee made the “wrong decision” when he joined Manchester United in July 2024.

United paid Bologna £36.5 million for the striker, who had netted 11 goals in 34 Serie A appearances in the 2023/24 campaign.

But Zirkzee has since delivered just three goals in 36 Premier League games for United, with most of those outings coming off the bench.

Zirkzee has yet to start a game for the Red Devils this season, with manager Ruben Amorim now favouring the likes of Benjamin Sesko, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo as his star attackers — all of whom moved to Old Trafford this summer during what was a record-breaking transfer window for Premier League clubs.

Joshua Zirkzee made the “wrong decision” by signing for Manchester United

“I think from my point of view that he should have stayed in Italy, because he was really striving,” Gullit told videogamer this week. “He was really doing well at Bologna, and I was hoping that he would go to Milan. I think that as soon as he went to Manchester United, it was the wrong decision.

“I mean, for a lot of players, moving to Manchester United has been the wrong decision. And whoever leaves them plays well everywhere around Europe. I just hope that there’s a solution for him.”

Gullit — who played 63 times for Chelsea in the late 1990s but is best remembered for his trophy-laden spell with AC Milan — offered some transfer advice to Zirkzee by urging him to get out of Old Trafford and return to Serie A.

Ruud Gullit’s transfer advice for Joshua Zirkzee

“Go back to Italy on loan if you can,” Gullit added. “Just play football.

“He’s a good player. But at the moment, it’s difficult at Manchester United. They found a little form in the past couple of weeks, and I hope for Manchester United that they continue that. Because a good Manchester United is good for the Premier League as well.”

United finished 15th in the Premier League last season, before starting the 2025/26 campaign by winning just two of their first seven games in all competitions.

Manager Amorim was odds-on to ‘win’ the Premier League sack race in September. Many felt it was only a question of when United would sack Amorim, rather than if.

However, despite concerns over Amorim’s obsession with his favourite 3-4-3 formation, public opinion has changed in recent weeks after United delivered 10 points from their last four Premier League games, including a shock 2-1 victory away at Liverpool.

That result saw Liverpool boss Arne Slot come under pressure, as it followed defeats by Crystal Palace, Galatasaray and Chelsea.

But Didi Hamann told FootballBlog.co.uk earlier this week in a wide-ranging interview that he expects both Amorim and Slot to keep their jobs.

“I’d be very surprised if either of them is not at the club at the end of the season,” said Hamann, who was speaking before Liverpool followed up last weekend’s 2-0 win over Aston Villa by beating Real Madrid 1-0 in the Champions League on Tuesday.

“I think both Slot and Amorim are now more comfortable at their respective clubs after a difficult period for them both. Of course, Slot has plenty of credit in the bank, and rightly so, because of how quickly he adapted last year, and then also delivered a Premier League title at the first attempt.

“With Manchester United, Amorim has turned it around for now, and they just can’t keep changing their managers every 12 or 18 months. I think because of that, I can’t see either being removed before the end of the season. What happens after that, of course, is less clear.”