Coach Joshua Zirksee’s hopes of securing a return to Serie A this month have been dashed. Roma’s director of football Frederic Massara has confirmed that Manchester United flatly refused to approve the move in January.
The Dutch forward has struggled to adapt to life at Old Trafford and, despite wanting more consistent playing time, United have no intention of letting him go midway through the season.
As reported by GOAL, before Roma’s 2-0 win over Turin, Massara spoke to Italian media to clarify the situation at the club.
“Manchester United clearly said no a few weeks ago and they haven’t changed their mind.” he revealed, effectively ending the Roman pursuit before it reached a decisive stage.
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Zirksee arrived at Old Trafford with high expectations after a breakthrough season with Bologna and has struggled to replicate that form in England.
Limited minutes, tactical inconsistency under different managers and intense competition for starting spots have all contributed to the frustration in the first half of the season.
The Dutchman’s desire to return to Serie A is well documented. He flourished in Italy and was praised for his physical style, collaboration and creativity.
His move to Roma, where he would likely be the centerpiece of the attack, was strongly promoted as a chance to revive the season.
International ambitions under threat
One of the main factors pushing Zirkzee to leave is his ambition to secure a place in Ronald Koeman’s Netherlands squad for the 2026 World Cup.
The Oranje have a squad that boasts strong competition in attack, with Cody Gakpo, Memphis Depay, Brian Brobby and Donyell Malen among others, and Zirkzee is keenly aware that warming up the bench at Man Utd won’t help his case.
His stay at Roma was widely seen as the ideal platform to get his international potential back on track, although he could have received more playing time and a more defined role.
Zirksee was considered one of the preferred options, but Masala’s approval meant other names had to be considered in Serie A and abroad.
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