Joshua Zirkzee has been brutally told he’s not good enough to be included in the squad for the Netherlands’ upcoming Nations League matches.
The Manchester United forward will not feature in the double header against Spain later this month.
Zirkzee made his senior international debut against Turkey at Euro 2024 and has been included in every squad since then, earning six caps.
However, his recent form, marked by a mere two goals in his last 18 games for his club, has led to his omission from selection.
“He wasn’t in the preliminary selection because I don’t think he’s good enough at the moment,” Netherlands boss Koeman told Studio Voetbal.
“Especially scanning when turning or passing often goes wrong.
“Yes, in principle, form and fitness are always leading, but that is not always possible.
“We have a lot of central defenders and midfielders, but we are somewhat limited upfront.
“But even then, I still think that you have to earn your selection, and I think he doesn’t deserve that now, but that could be the case again in another period.”
Joining Zirkzee in being left out of the Netherlands’ latest squad is Man United teammate Matthijs de Ligt, a shock considering the defender has consistently represented his country when fit since earning his first cap in 2017.
Zirkzee has netted only three Premier League goals for United since joining from Bologna for £36.5million last summer.
Yet, perhaps even more concerning, the Red Devils striker has not even been testing his luck in front of goal; in 28 games Zirkzee has taken just 25 shots.
Despite Koeman’s recent comments, Red Devils boss Ruben Amorim passionately defended Zirkzee, arguing that the player has been improving lately.
Speaking after United’s 1-1 draw in the Europa League with Real Sociedad last week, the Portuguese manager said: “I think some players are improving individually. Josh, I think, is improving, in changing, a little bit, the position.”
So far this season, United have only found the net 34 times in 28 league games. At this rate they risk finishing the season with just 46 goals.
The Red Devils are also enduring a season marked by historic struggles in the Premier League table.
In Erik ten Hag‘s last full season at Old Trafford, his side suffered their lowest finish in the rebranded top flight (eighth).
But that record is set to be broken just a year later, with United finding themselves languishing in 14th under Ruben Amorim.
Squads for the next international break are set to be released by each nation this week, with Thomas Tuchel preparing to name his first England squad on Friday.
The final break of the 2024/25 season begins after this weekend’s Premier League fixtures and runs until March 29, when the FA Cup returns for the quarter-final round.
