In his short career, Joshua Zirkzee has won the Bundesliga, the UEFA Champions League, the UEFA Super Cup, the DFB Pokal and the DFL Super Cup twice.
Bologna striker, Joshua Orobosa Zirkzee, has stated the only condition that’ll make him opt to don the jersey of the Super Eagles of Nigeria, Soccernet.ng reports.
Zirkzee, 22, broke out in the German Bundesliga in the 2019/2020 season with Bayern Munich, winning the treble under the tutelage of Hansi Flick.
Since that time, he has been sent out on loan to Parma and Anderlecht, before joining Bologna on a permanent deal in the summer of 2022.
His rich form this season has seen his name chalked up talks about an inclusion in Ronald Koeman’s squad for the Euro 2024 tournament in Germany after leading the line brilliantly for Bologna this season, scoring nine goals and raking in four assists.
Born on the 22nd of May 2001, Zirkzee has a Nigerian Mother and a Dutch Father. He has also represented Les Oranjes from the U-15 level to the U-21 level but is yet to make an appearance for the senior team.
He has maintained that his preferred choice is the Netherlands and it’ll be a dream come true to play the Euro 2024 tournament with Ronald Koeman’s men in Germany, the country he made a name for himself before moving abroad.
“My dream has always been the Dutch national team. However, the European Championships is not necessarily a crossroad. If that doesn’t happen then, I’ll look further. I’d be grateful if it did happen and if not, I have to make sure they call me. You hope to be there one day,” the former Bayern Munich man said in quotes revealed by Algemeen Dagblad.
A change of Nationality isn’t out of the question for Zirkzee, although he admitted it’ll be difficult too, as Nigeria has some of the finest strikers on the planet in Victor Osimhen and Victor Boniface.
“It’s not easy to say. If the Netherlands aren’t calling, then I’ll choose Nigeria. Are they even calling? Maybe. Nigeria is not a country that you just choose because you cannot play for your homeland. The competition there for attackers is perhaps just as great as in the Dutch team. Nigeria has Boniface from Leverkusen and Osimhen from Napoli. And they have many more attackers,” the 22-year-old added.
Bologna are currently 4th on the Italian Serie A table, two points above Ademola Lookman’s Atalanta who are in 5th place and are keen on a spot in next season’s UEFA Champions League.