Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee has cited the impact of former Manchester City defender Vincent Kompany for helping improve his game.
Zirkzee was signed by the Reds in a €42.5million (£35.8million) deal from Bologna last month soon after the Netherlands were knocked out of Euro 2024. He is now working at Carrington ahead of his first season with the Red Devils.
The 23-year-old worked under Kompany as his manager during a loan spell with Anderlecht during the 2021/22 season. Now the United striker has explained how the Manchester City legend helped improve his game during his season-long loan.
Joshua Zirkzee and Vincent Kompany ( Photo by Jimmy Bolcina / Photo News via Getty Images)
“Kompany was the coach who explained so much to me about the game and the small details,” Zirkzee told The Mirror. “That year under him was very important for my development – and he also made sure I played all the time.
“At Anderlecht, under the wings of Kompany, I took some significant steps forward during that season. Things went so much better for me. In my time at Bayern, I wasn’t that player. There I was too much in awe.
“I should have believed in myself more. Back then I thought I was okay, but now I have a different mentality. I don’t know how else to explain it. I think back then I wasn’t even half the player I am now.
“I thought I was good enough to become Bayern’s first striker right away, but I wasn’t ready for that at all. It was very good that I took a step back to find out what it really takes to succeed at the top.”
Zirkzee will aim to be United’s starting striker this season and will compete with Rasmus Hojlund for the centre forward spot. The 23-year-old scored 12 goals for Bologna last season and has previously had spells at Bayern Munich and Anderlecht in his career.
