Rio Ferdinand has expressed his disappointment for Joshua Zirkzee following the forward’s early substitution during Manchester United’s 2-0 defeat to Newcastle.
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The 23-year-old Dutch international, signed for £36.5 million from Bologna in the summer, has struggled to live up to the high expectations placed upon him.
Despite a promising debut against Fulham, Zirkzee has managed only three goals across all competitions this season.
His performance issues were highlighted last month when new manager Ruben Amorim criticized him after United’s match against Ipswich.
The situation worsened on Tuesday when Amorim substituted Zirkzee just 33 minutes into the match, sparking boos from frustrated fans at Old Trafford. Kobbie Mainoo replaced him, and Zirkzee left the pitch visibly dejected.
Explaining his decision to substitute the forward so early, Amorim told Sky Sports: “Josh is a player we need more power from in attack. We’re addressing multiple issues within the team, but sometimes fixing one problem exposes another. Newcastle was clearly the better side tonight.”
Analyzing the match on his YouTube channel, Rio Ferdinand Presents, Ferdinand called the team’s performance a “disgrace” and admitted it disrupted his sleep.
Reflecting on Zirkzee’s situation, he said: “Being taken off after 30 minutes is tough, especially with the crowd’s reaction.
My heart goes out to him. I hope he gets the support he needs from the manager and his teammates to bounce back. We’ve seen great players endure similar situations and recover.”
Ferdinand also urged United captain Bruno Fernandes to take the lead in supporting Zirkzee, saying, “Bruno needs to set an example, both in discipline and in lifting teammates. He should reassure Zirkzee that this isn’t the end for him at United.
None of our players are performing at their best right now, and the manager needs time to fully implement his ideas.”
As the season continues, questions remain over Zirkzee’s future at Manchester United. Can he turn things around, or will the summer signing become another costly disappointment?
