September 12th 2024.
Joshua Zirkzee's debut with Manchester United has been met with mixed reviews, with some questioning his ability to adjust to the fast-paced and intense nature of English football. The young forward was signed by United for a hefty fee of £36.5 million from Italian club Bologna, as the team looked to add more firepower to support Rasmus Hojlund.
Despite a dream start, where Zirkzee came off the bench to score a dramatic late winner against Fulham on the opening weekend of the Premier League, he failed to find the back of the net in the next two matches against Brighton and Liverpool. With United facing Southampton next, Zirkzee will be eager to prove himself and add to his goal tally.
One player who has made a successful transition from Italy to England is Liverpool's new signing, Federico Chiesa. Capello, who has closely followed the Italian's career, believes he has all the necessary qualities to thrive in the Premier League. "I think he has the right speed to play in the Premier League," Capello told Corriere della Sera.
However, Capello also expressed concerns about Zirkzee's performances so far, saying, "Elsewhere, I saw Zirkzee who is having great difficulty because he thinks he can still play at the Italian pace." It remains to be seen how Zirkzee will adapt and develop in the highly competitive English league.
As the Ballon d'Or ceremony approaches, Capello has made a case for Manchester City and Spain midfielder Rodri to win the top prize. "I would award it to Rodri, for what he did in the Premier League, in the Champions League, and at the European Championship," the former England and Real Madrid manager explained. "This season, he was the strongest of all."
Capello is also keen to see how Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain will fare in the new-look Champions League, after both clubs had difficult transfer windows. "There is little talk about [Lamine] Yamal's Barcelona, who cannot buy players," he added. "And I am interested to see how far PSG will get without [Kylian] Mbappe: they are two teams that I follow with great attention."
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