Man city coach Pep Guardiola named one Man United summer signing as the worst signing he ever seen since he came to premier league
Pep Guardiola has set the football world on fire after dropping what many are calling the harshest verdict ever delivered by a Premier League manager — and the target of his anger is none other than a big-money Manchester United signing.
“Honestly, I still don’t understand why United paid that kind of money for him. I don’t see the value. Even against a team fighting relegation, he can’t change anything.”
Those blunt words, according to insiders, were aimed at one player Guardiola believes is the most disappointing United acquisition he has witnessed since arriving in England.
That player is Joshua Zirkzee.
Reports suggest Guardiola was completely stunned watching United struggle against West Ham and other defensive teams this season. He allegedly confided to his coaching staff that Zirkzee — despite the huge investment — “doesn’t trouble defenders, doesn’t stretch the backline, and doesn’t provide the kind of threat a modern forward should.”
A source close to the manager shared that Pep was amazed at how little influence Zirkzee had in a match United desperately needed to win, saying:
“He doesn’t shift the tempo. He gets on the ball and nothing happens. For that kind of fee, a striker should impose himself, not fade away.”
Guardiola reportedly added that Zirkzee’s style “lacks drive, lacks urgency, and lacks any real danger,” even suggesting that academy players show more hunger than the Dutch forward.
City staff were said to be taken aback by the intensity of Pep’s comments, but he didn’t walk them back. Instead, he insisted that United made a glaring error by basing their attack around a player he felt was never suited to leading the line.
The line “worst signing I’ve seen since I came to this league” has exploded across social media. United supporters are torn:
– Some feel Pep is right, arguing that Zirkzee has failed to deliver when it matters.
– Others believe it’s deliberate mind-games aimed at destabilising an already struggling striker.
– Neutrals can’t believe Pep, usually calm and diplomatic, has taken such a direct shot.
Tension is reportedly building inside United as well. Zirkzee is aware of the criticism and is believed to be frustrated by his low output. Coaches worry that Pep’s public takedown could damage his mindset at an already fragile time.
And Guardiola didn’t end there.
He is said to have told someone close to him:
“When you invest that amount in a striker, he must make an immediate difference. With this one… I don’t see anything. Nothing. He doesn’t move the team forward.”
The remark is already shaping up to be one of the defining talking points of the season — a moment that may either break Zirkzee or push him to prove everyone wrong.
