Football pundit and former Aston Villa star Gabby Agbonlahor has taken a swipe at Manchester United’s forward Joshua Zirkzee, criticizing the Dutchman’s form since his arrival at Old Trafford. Zirkzee, signed from Bologna this summer for £36.5 million, has struggled to make an impact since scoring on his Premier League debut against Fulham.
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Agbonlahor claims that Zirkzee has been “poor” and questions his ability to control the ball, sparking concerns among fans about the 23-year-old’s ability to adapt to the demands of English football.
Despite a promising start, with many expecting Zirkzee to have a breakout season, the forward has failed to live up to expectations. Since his debut goal, he has neither scored nor assisted in the 11 appearances that followed. Agbonlahor, speaking on talkSPORT, expressed his disappointment:
“Everyone was talking about Joshua Zirkzee like he was an amazing player. But he’s gone to United, and he can’t even control the ball. He has time to turn things around, but so far, he’s been poor from the start of the season.”
Zirkzee’s form is especially concerning for Manchester United, a club that has been struggling to find consistent performances across the board. Manager Erik ten Hag faces increasing pressure as the Red Devils have slipped to 12th place in the Premier League table.
United’s lack of attacking options and Zirkzee’s underwhelming contributions have only exacerbated the situation. The forward’s struggles have left fans and pundits questioning whether he can become the long-term solution for the team’s offensive woes.
While discussing Zirkzee’s performance, Agbonlahor also made a bold claim about Aston Villa’s growing appeal to players. According to the former Villa striker, players now prefer to join Aston Villa over Manchester United. This, he argues, is due to Villa’s presence in the UEFA Champions League and the stability within the club under manager Unai Emery. “Aston Villa are in the Champions League. It’s every player’s dream to play in that competition,” Agbonlahor said.
He further elaborated on the contrast between Villa and United, suggesting that Emery’s influence at Villa has made the club more appealing to potential signings. “If you look at Unai Emery now, he’s got the club in his hands. No one above him is telling him who to sign. He can sign whoever he wants, and there’s no circus with the owners,” Agbonlahor explained.
He emphasized that while Manchester United is historically a much larger club, its current struggles have made it less attractive to players. “Are Manchester United a bigger club? Of course, by far. But right now, players go there, and their careers go downhill.”
Aston Villa, in contrast, are thriving under Emery’s leadership. They currently sit fourth in the Premier League table after a strong start to the season, while Manchester United’s inconsistent performances have left them trailing in 12th place.
Agbonlahor’s comments highlight a growing sentiment that Villa, with their current trajectory and stability, are becoming a more attractive option for players seeking career success. Whether Zirkzee can turn his season around and prove his doubters wrong remains to be seen, but the pressure is undoubtedly mounting.
