ROMA DIRECTOR CONFIRMS MANCHESTER UNITED REFUSE TO SELL JOSHUA ZIRKZEE THIS MONTH
Roma director Frederic Massara confirms Manchester United will not sell Joshua Zirkzee. Discover why Carrick is blocking the move.
Roma’s director of football, Frederic Massara, doubled down on his stance: Manchester United isn’t letting Joshua Zirkzee leave this month. Even though Zirkzee didn’t make Michael Carrick’s first squad, Massara doesn’t see United budging.
Zirkzee’s season has been a mess. He managed to outlast Rasmus Højlund at United after a flood of new strikers arrived, but then spent four months stuck on the bench. Eventually, Benjamin Šeško’s injury gave Ruben Amorim no choice but to play Zirkzee. The 24-year-old finally got three starts in a row as November turned into December, even broke a 364-day Premier League goal drought, and then—right when it looked like things might turn for him—got dropped again.
After Amorim left, Massara admitted United had shut down all transfer talks until the club found some stability. Bringing Carrick in until the end of the season answered one question, but it didn’t change United’s position. When reporters pressed him again about Zirkzee this weekend, Massara didn’t sugarcoat it: “Man Utd said no quite clearly a couple of weeks ago, and they have not changed their minds,” he told BBC Sport’s Simon Stone.
Zirkzee missed Carrick’s second debut at Old Trafford, watching from the sidelines as United deservedly rolled over Manchester City 2–0. Carrick went with a lineup that didn’t even include a real striker, instead taking advantage of Bryan Mbeumo’s speed and flexibility. But Zirkzee’s absence wasn’t about Carrick losing faith in him. United announced before the match that Zirkzee picked up a knock in training. Afterwards, cameras caught him telling fans he’d be out for two weeks—which, conveniently, covers the rest of the January transfer window.
Don’t expect Carrick to get any signings in January. That’s been clear for a while, and it’s the main reason players like Zirkzee aren’t going anywhere for at least another six months. United’s squad is already thin, so they can’t afford to let anyone leave.
Still, there could be some fresh faces in the team. Carrick made a point during his first week to talk up the club’s academy and the chances young players have to step up. “Everyone needs a chance, you know,” he said. “Every younger player needs a chance and wants a chance. It’s up to them to earn it.
“I’ve always been passionate about that—even when I was playing. If a younger guy joined the squad, I’d try to help him, guide him, and give him advice. Watching them take off, getting that feeling of playing for the first team – it’s great.”
Maybe Carrick’s playing to the fans by saying all this, especially after Amorim’s cold attitude toward the club’s so-called “entitled” youngsters. But honestly, with United’s squad stretched so thin, Carrick might have no choice but to lean on the kids.
STOPPAGE TIME SAVER: BENJAMIN SESKO RESCUES MICHAEL CARRICK’S UNBEATEN STREAK AT WEST HAM
Benjamin Sesko saved Manchester United with a 96th-minute flick after Tomas Soucek put West Ham ahead. Read the full 2026 report.
Manchester United left it late, grabbing a dramatic draw against West Ham at the London Stadium. Tomas Soucek seemed to have won it for the Hammers with his second-half goal, but Benjamin Sesko popped up in stoppage time with a clever finish to snatch a point for United, who’ve been on a good run. The first half really dragged. United couldn’t break West Ham down at all. Everyone in a claret shirt just sat deep. Luke Shaw came closest, but Aaron Wan-Bissaka cleared his shot off the line.
After the break, things actually got interesting. Four minutes in, Soucek bundled one in from close range. Casemiro thought he’d levelled things up after an hour, but VAR ruled his header out for offside. Both teams had chances as the clock ran down, but it was Sesko who finally found the net deep into stoppage time, saving United right at the end.
Man United player ratings vs West Ham
Senne Lammens – 6
Came up big early to deny Summerville from a distance. No chance with Soucek’s goal.
Diogo Dalot – 4
Had a tough time with Summerville’s pace and kept giving the ball away. Picked up a needless yellow.
Lisandro Martínez – 6
Easily the most composed passer at the back, breaking lines a few times. Solid defensively for the most part.
Luke Shaw – 5
Almost scored in the first half, but his shot was cleared off the line. Then stepped out of position before Soucek’s goal, which cost United.
Casemiro – 7
Pretty solid in midfield—broke up play and timed his tackles well. Scored with a header, but it didn’t count.
Kobbie Mainoo – 6
Kept things ticking in the middle but couldn’t really hurt West Ham. Lost Soucek for the goal.
Amad – 5
Had a decent look before halftime but hit the side netting. Didn’t offer his usual spark.
Matheus Cunha – 4
Barely got involved. Dropped deep to get on the ball but didn’t do anything with it.
Bryan Mbeumo – 5
Ran hard, tracked back, and helped defensively, but didn’t threaten much in attack.
Joshua Zirkzee – 6
Came on for Maguire for the last 20 minutes and made a couple of crucial blocks as West Ham pressed for another.
Benjamin Sesko – 7
Subbed in for Cunha in the second half and poked home in stoppage time to grab United a point.
DISCOVER WHICH MANCHESTER UNITED STARS WILL MISS THE WEST HAM CLASH
Michael Carrick confirms Mason Mount and Matthijs de Ligt will miss Manchester United’s clash with West Ham as the win streak nears 5.
Here’s the latest on Man United’s injury list and who’s likely to return when they take on West Ham.
Man United head to the London Stadium on Tuesday night without three key players. All of them are still recovering. Michael Carrick, who’s already chalked up four straight wins since taking over, is aiming to stretch that run to five. United are right in the mix for a Champions League spot now, just three points off third-placed Aston Villa.
They’ll want to keep racking up points, but after the West Ham game, there’s nearly a two-week gap before they play Everton. That’s not enough time for any of the injured guys to make it back for West Ham, though Carrick’s hoping at least one of them will be ready for the Everton trip later this month.
So, who’s out? The same trio that missed the weekend win over the Spurs. None of them will feature in East London. De Ligt hasn’t played since beating Crystal Palace at the end of November. Carrick says it’s still too soon to predict exactly when he’ll be fit again.
Dorgu is dealing with a hamstring injury from the Arsenal match last month. He’ll be out for about two months and probably won’t return until after the March international break. Mount has already missed the last two games after picking up a small knock in training. He won’t make it in time for West Ham, but Carrick expects him back to face Everton.
“Mason probably won’t be ready for Tuesday, probably after, but definitely by the Everton game, he’ll be back,” Carrick told reporters before the match. “Matta, we’ll see how he gets on… the Everton game still feels a way off, so we’ll just have to watch his progress. He’s doing well, heading in the right direction, but Mason’s a bit closer.”