Bayern Munich of Germany’s Nigerian-born fast-rising kid, Joshua Zirkzee has received a strong tip to be part of Holland’s squad to next year’s European Championship, which would automatically rule him out of any possibility of starring for the Super Eagles in future.
Megasportsarena.com gathered that, while many Nigerians are already excited with Zirkzee’s breakthrough, with strong hope of seeing him one day don the nation’s green-and-white jersey, a Dutch legend, Willem van Hanegem believes the European country will cap the youngster first.
Zirkzeee’s chance to make the squad has been boosted by reports that Olympique Lyon forward, Memphis Depay is set to miss the remaining part of the season due to a anterior cruciate knee ligament injury, and the former Manchester United winger is doubtful for the Euros.
In place of Depay, Van Hanegem has identified Zirkzee as one of the possible candidates to take a spot in the Netherlands squad, even as reports emerged that the youngster is attracting transfer interest from the Spanish duo of Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Various reports from Spain indicate that Los Blancos and La Blaugrana have both identified the Netherlands youth international as a future transfer target, such that Holland are bound to rely on the rising value of Zirkzee as key addition to their arsenal for the upcoming Euros.
Bayern Munich’s interim manager, Hansi Flick is already lookingat the possibility of handing Zirkzee more first team opportunities, after the mulatto lad got off the bench to score in back-to-back games against SC Freiburg and VfL Wolfsburg last week.
He earlier had attention from England coming his way before he even joined Bayern in 2017, with Everton, Manchester United and Arsenal are luring him without success, but the buzz is on once again, after Zirkzee made his first team debut for The Bavarians in a UEFA Champions League match against Tottenham Hotspur on December 11.
The 18-year-old, who hit 44 goals for Munich’s youths before earning a first team promotion a month ago, went on in place of Ivan Perisic with four minutes remaining against Spurs and comported himself well in his side’s handsome win, such that Van Hanegem believes Zirkzee has what it takes to be part of Ronald Koeman’s Dutch squad for the 2020 European Championship.
That would surely mark the end of any hope of seeing him the don the Eagles’ jersey, as it would be a competitive senior outing for Zirkzee, who became provisionally cap-tied to the country of birth when he featured in an U17 European Championship qualifier against Hungary in October 2017 and is now an under-19 international for the Dutch.
Van Hanegem stated as much in his column for Algemeen Dagblad, adding: “What makes me happy is the development of Orkun Kökçü. He was in an interesting class with the youth of Orange with, among others, Mo Ihattaren and Joshua Zirkzee.
“The latter really made a great entrance at Bayern Munich. Two very important goals at a top club in a tough competition. If that guy can continue to develop, he might be an option to fill the vacancy of Memphis Depay at Orange. I am not interested in the fact that Zirkzee and Boadu are very young. Age says nothing.”
