Manchester United striker Joshua Zirkzee has been omitted from the Netherlands’ squad for their UEFA Nations League clash against Hungary, Soccernet.football reports.
Zirkzee’s challenging debut season at Old Trafford continues to cast a shadow.
Since his £36.5m move from Bologna, the 23-year-old has scored just once in 17 appearances across all competitions, struggling to justify the hefty price tag.
Despite his underwhelming form, he earned a call-up to Ronald Koeman’s national team, competing for a starting role with Ajax forward Brian Brobbey.
However, Koeman has opted to leave Zirkzee out of the matchday squad for Sunday’s crucial encounter, citing UEFA regulations.
UEFA rules stipulate that matchday squads must be limited to 23 players, though Koeman initially named a 25-man squad to evaluate several options.
At a press conference on Friday, the Dutch coach confirmed he would trim two players but refrained from revealing names to show respect. The finalized list, however, excludes Zirkzee and Bournemouth winger Justin Kluivert, according to VoetbalInternational.
Koeman’s attacking choices include Wout Weghorst, Noa Lang, Donyell Malen, Cody Gakpo, and Brobbey, leaving Zirkzee on the sidelines.
The exclusion is a bitter setback for the young striker, who had hoped to rediscover his scoring touch on international duty.
Zirkzee’s struggles at United have raised doubts about his future under new manager Ruben Amorim.
Reports suggest Amorim could prioritise Marcus Rashford as a central striker, further diminishing Zirkzee’s opportunities.
Speculation also hints at a January move, with Juventus reportedly interested, while United might explore using the former Bayern Munich star in a swap deal with Sporting to secure Viktor Gyökeres.
Zirkzee’s lone Premier League goal came on his debut against Fulham, but he has failed to score since, starting just two of United’s last seven games.
The Red Devils face Ipswich next weekend, with Zirkzee desperate to regain favour and prove his worth.