Zirkzee to Man Utd: Rome’s Update & Negotiation Details

Roma raise the pressure. Not yet on the pitch where he hopes to find him again against Celtic after the bad performances against Napoli and Cagliari. But on the market where negotiations officially opened last night to get Joshua Zirkzee, the striker in pole position in Gasperini’s preferences despite his poor performance at Manchester United. The green light came from Houston, land dominated by the Friedkins who were convinced to give Gasp a necessary offensive reinforcement also given the almost certain return of Ferguson to Brighton.

contacts between Roma and Manchester United

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The Roma presidency, yesterday evening, gave its approval to speed up the matter. Sports director Massara was thus able to go beyond simple work with intermediaries and continue straight towards the Manchester management who had already opened up for some time to the sale of the Dutchman who remained on the bench (despite the absence of Sesko) even in the last match won by the Red Devils 4-1 against Wolverhampton. A signal that definitively convinced Zirkzee to leave the Premier League. The contacts between Roma and his agent, Kia Joorabchian, date back to a few weeks ago. And the former Bologna striker’s appreciation for Roma and Serie A is practically total. But now an agreement needs to be reached with Manchester United. A significant deal which should lead Massara to continue his British stay which will begin this evening in Glasgow. The Red Devils, in fact, want to monetize from the sale of Zirkzee by not limiting themselves to a simple loan with right of redemption. The request, already sent through intermediaries, is that of a loan with an obligation to redeem of 35 million. Roma is willing to take a step forward but would like to make the obligation conditional on participation in the next Champions League as well as reducing something on the figure. And he would like to do it quickly also because Gasperini desperately needs goals in attack.

PRESSING E DRIBBLING

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The manager has long put the Dutchman at the top of his wish list. For this reason, any negotiations for Raspadori, Yuri Alberto or Fabio Silva were also frozen. On the other hand, Gasp wanted Zirkzee in his court already during his time with Atalanta. When the Dutchman was at Thiago Motta’s Bologna and proved to be at ease in man-to-man pressing situations. Almost a necessary condition in which he can put his technique and cunning to good use, what street football has taught him: “It makes you tough: it teaches you to become smarter and to stand up to bigger guys,” the Dutchman said in an interview. An emblematic fact? During the 2023-24 season Zirkzee attempted more than four dribbles every 90 minutes – double the average for Serie A forwards – with a success rate close to 50%. And successful dribbles resulted in a dangerous shot on goal every 180 minutes. Precisely what Gasp searched in vain in Ferguson and Dovbyk.