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Whereas Manchester United’s academy has produced many if not many of the membership’s greats over time, the pleasant nation of the Netherlands has additionally had an enormous half to play, particularly on this millennium.
Two of the membership’s biggest strikers of the trendy period, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Robin van Persie, have each had an enormous hand in shaping the membership’s successes.
It was becoming and a pleasing coincidence that one other Dutchman, Joshua Zirkzee, scored on his United debut on Friday because the Pink Devils beat Fulham of their opening sport of the 2024/25 Premier League season.
BBC reporter Simon Stone identified on X after the sport: “A well-liked late aim in opposition to Fulham for a Dutchman on his PL debut 23 years after one other Dutchman additionally scored (two) on his PL debut for @ManUtd in opposition to Fulham at Previous Trafford.
“If Joshua Zirkzee will get wherever near Ruud van Nistelrooy he can have accomplished very nicely however he made a wonderful begin.”
A well-liked late aim in opposition to Fulham for a Dutchman on his PL debut 23 years after one other Dutchman additionally scored (two) on his PL debut for @ManUtd in opposition to Fulham at Previous Trafford. If Joshua Zirkzee will get wherever near Ruud van Nistelrooy he can have accomplished very nicely however he made an…
— Simon Stone (@sistoney67) August 16, 2024
Van Nistelrooy’s debut objectives had been scored on nineteenth August, 2001.
Zirkzee is unlikely to achieve the legendary striker’s tally of 150 objectives for the membership, though it isn’t not possible. That’s not as a result of he’s an inferior participant, however quite as a result of he’s a self-proclaimed “9 and a half” – not an out-and-out striker however extra of a hyperlink participant.
Nonetheless, on Friday he confirmed us that he is aware of the place the again of the web is.
In some methods, the parallels are better with Van Persie than Van Nistelrooy. He, too, was in a position to play alongside or behind one other striker though he was equally adept as a lone entrance man.
It was additionally becoming, due to this fact, that followers exterior the bottom after the sport confirmed their appreciation for the brand new signing by singing Van Persie’s previous music to him. “Oh, Robin van Persie” has grow to be “Oh, Joshua Zirkzee”.
— Lichaaa (@lichandrooooo) August 17, 2024
As soon as Rasmus Hojlund is match, will probably be attention-grabbing to see how Erik ten Hag strains his staff up. He has already stated he plans to make use of each gamers on the identical time. Maybe Zirkzee will play as a second striker and Bruno Fernandes will return into his favorite quantity eight place.
Finally, it would rely upon how each strikers are performing and once more, in one other pleased coincidence, one key man in that regard might be Van Nistelrooy himself.
The good man joined United as a primary staff coach this summer season and can little question be instrumental within the improvement of the younger star who intends to observe in his footsteps.
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