Matheus Cunha has urged Joshua Zirkzee to fight for his place at Manchester United amid reports he has agreed to join Roma in the January transfer window.
Zirkzee has long been linked with leaving Old Trafford after struggling to adjust to the Premier League last season.
The £36.5million signing from Bologna scored just three league goals in 2024/25 and had been scarcely used by Ruben Amorim at the start of this campaign.
However, thanks to a mix of injuries, players leaving for the Africa Cup of Nations and struggling form, the forward has been given more of a chance in the last two months and he has shown some promise.
The Netherlands international has two goals in his last three starts and assisted Cunha within two minutes of coming off the bench on Sunday as United drew 1-1 with Leeds.
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Reports suggest Zirkzee has already said yes to joining Roma this month, with the Serie A side very keen on the 24-year-old who will want more regular game time in a World Cup year.
It is said United will sanction his departure but only until after the conclusion of AFCON, by which stage attacking midfielders Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo will return to the club.
But speaking after the draw at Elland Road, Cunha shared his desire for Zirkzee to stay, telling BBC Match of the Day: ‘Josh is a pleasure to play with, he has a lot of quality.
‘His situation is not good but he has the quality to change it. He needs to understand this and we want to count on him.
‘We are here to push him. After the goal last week and the assist today he will have more confidence to be with us and do his role.’
Metro at the Match: Leeds United 1-1 Man Utd
Metro breaks down the winners and losers from Manchester United’s 1-1 draw against Leeds United at Elland Road.
Cunha steps up
Matheus Cunha has settled into life at Old Trafford well, but his equaliser against Leeds was just his fourth of the season. The Brazilian will need to continue in that vein, particularly with Bruno Fernandes, Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo all unavailable and Benjamin Sesko continuing to struggle.
Amorim makes a statement with Dorgu role
Amorim could have handed a rare start to Joshua Zirkzee in his front three, but instead chose to deploy Patrick Dorgu, nominally a left wing-back, as a right-sided No10. The Dane equipped himself well, but surely can’t be a long-term solution for United’s lack of quality in the final third.
Heaven shows his age
The young United defender was United’s Player of the Month for December and showed many of those qualities with his assured first-half display. But a costly error to allow Brenden Aaronson to open the scoring shows the 19-year-old is far from the finished product just yet.
Man Utd match ratings: Lammens 6, Yoro 5, Heaven 6, Martinez 6, Dalot 5, Casemiro 7, Ugarte 5, Shaw 6, Dorgu 6, Cunha 7, Sesko 4. Subs: Zirkzee 6.
Calvert-Lewin continues to impress
Fast looking like one of the shrewdest free transfers of the summer window, Dominic Calvert-Lewin continued his impressive form against United.
The Englishman was touted as a potential target for the Red Devils over the summer, who might regret not taking a punt on his fitness. Unlucky not to get on the scoresheet when his first-half header came back off the post.
Leeds match ratings: Perri 6, Bornauw 6, Bijol 7, Struijk 8, Justin 7, Aaronson 7, Gruev 6, Stach 7, Gudmundsson 7, Calvert-Lewin 7, Okafor 7. Subs: Nmecha 6, Tanaka N/A, Gnonto N/A, Piroe N/A.
Speaking in his post-match press conference – shortly before dropping a bombshell on the United board – Amorim praised Zirkzee’s cameo and suggested he was still counting on the forward.
‘I think Josh played well in the 25 minutes he had,’ the head coach said.
‘Connected very well with his teammates, and he showed he’s got a lot to give. Josh must be ready when we call on him, just like all the other players. That’s what he did today.’
The Red Devils – with or without Zirkzee – travel to relegation threatened Burnley in their next match on Wednesday night.
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