As Manchester United prepares to face Chelsea, interim manager Ruud van Nistelrooy has offered his perspective on Joshua Zirkzee’s future at the club. Since his arrival from Bologna for £36 million, Zirkzee has faced challenges finding his footing in the Premier League, leading to questions about his role in United’s lineup.

Speaking to the club’s official site, Van Nistelrooy defended the young Dutch striker, emphasizing the importance of patience and development. “Josh has a lot of talent,” Van Nistelrooy explained. “He’s a different type of striker than Rasmus [Hojlund]. While Rasmus tends to push higher up, playing off the back of defenders, Josh excels in hold-up play and linking up with the team.”

Van Nistelrooy highlighted Zirkzee’s performance against Crystal Palace as a sign of his potential, calling it “excellent” and “one of his best performances.” The interim manager added, “He’s still young, and with time, he will only improve. I have no doubt he’ll become a very good player for this club.”

Despite recent speculation linking Zirkzee to Juventus, Van Nistelrooy believes he has a future at Old Trafford. “Josh just needs time to settle,” he noted. “His link-up play and ball s𝓀𝒾𝓁𝓁s are clear strengths, and I’m confident we’ll see more of that as he continues to develop.”

Manchester United fans will be watching closely as Zirkzee looks to make his mark under Van Nistelrooy’s guidance, starting with the crucial match against Chelsea.