Major Setback for Manchester United
Major Setback for Manchester United
Zirkzee Ruled Out for the Season
The 23-year-old forward, who joined United from Bologna for £42.5 million last summer
Suffered a popliteal tendon injury, which will require several weeks of recovery. Manager Ruben Amorim confirmed the news during Wednesday’s press conference, just a day before United face Lyon in the crucial Europa League quarter-final second leg.
Bad Timing as Form Began to Rise
Zirkzee’s first few months at Old Trafford were challenging. Despite his hefty price tag, he initially struggled to find his rhythm and place within the squad. However, his fortunes began to change after the New Year.
Coming off the bench in last week’s Europa League encounter against Lyon, Zirkzee made an immediate impact by scoring a vital equaliser in the 2-2 draw, offering hope that he could finish the season strongly. Unfortunately, fate had other plans.
Ruben has ruled Joshua Zirkzee out for the season.
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) April 16, 2025
Speedy recovery, Josh ❤️#MUFC || #UEL
Amorim: “We’ll Prepare Him for Next Season
In a calm yet disappointed tone, manager Ruben Amorim addressed the striker’s situation:
“Joshua Zirkzee will miss the rest of the season, so he won’t play again this campaign. We’ll now prepare him for the next one.”
The Portuguese coach went on to express his sympathy for the young striker:
“It’s especially hard at this moment because he’s improving every aspect of his game. But this is football – he must now focus on recovery.”
United’s Injury List Growing
Zirkzee’s injury only adds to a long list of absentees troubling Manchester United.
Lisandro Martínez has already been ruled out for the season, while Amad Diallo remains sidelined with an ankle issue sustained in February.
Ayden Heaven also picked up a minor knock during training and is unavailable for the Lyon match.
Although Jonny Evans has returned to training, Amorim confirmed the veteran defender isn’t yet match fit.
Matthijs de Ligt is expected to return before the end of the season, but his exact timeline remains unclear.
What It Means for United
United are entering the most critical phase of their season, with both domestic and European ambitions hanging in the balance. The absence of Zirkzee removes a key attacking option just when the club needs depth the most.
With only a few weeks remaining and fixtures piling up, questions will be asked about whether United have enough firepower to finish the job – both in the Premier League and in Europe.
