Zirkzee: Ex-Bayern Munich wonderkid gives conditions to choose Super Eagles over Netherlands
i

Joshua Zirkzee could leave Bologna this summer (Photo Credit: Eurofootcom/X)

FOOTBALL Zirkzee: Ex-Bayern Munich wonderkid gives conditions to choose Super Eagles over Netherlands

Zirkzee: Ex-Bayern Munich wonderkid gives conditions to choose Super Eagles over Netherlands

Izuchukwu Akawor • 15:44 - 29.02.2024

Former Bayern Munich forward Joshua Zirkzee is torn between Nigeria's Super Eagles and Netherlands' Oranje.

Rising soccer star Joshua Zirkzee has revealed he faces a tough decision choosing between representing the Netherlands or Nigeria at the international level.

Pulse Sports Nigeria reports that Zirkzee has found his feet at Serie A side Bologna following his exit from Bayern Munich but is yet to decide his international allegiance. 

Zirkzee on Super Eagles 

The 21-year-old Bayern Munich striker is eligible for both countries and is wanted by the European giants and African powerhouse.

But with competition for places fierce in both squads, Zirkzee admitted his choice is far from straightforward.

Bologna forward Joshua Zirkzee | Imago

"Choosing Nigeria? It's not easy to say," he said when quizzed on his international allegiance per a post by Eurofootcom. 

"If the Netherlands aren’t calling, then I’ll choose Nigeria."

Zirkzee says playing for the Netherlands remains his dream.
Zirkzee says playing for the Netherlands remains his dream. (Photo Credit: Eurofootcom/X)

"Are they even calling? Maybe. The competition there for attackers is perhaps just as great as in the Dutch team. Nigeria has (Victor) Boniface, (Victor) Osimhen and many more attackers," he added.

"My dream has always been the Dutch national team. However, the EURO is not necessarily a crossroad. If that doesn’t happen then, I’ll look further.”

var widgetLoaderConfig = widgetLoaderConfig || { CDN_URL: 'https://widgets.sportal365.com', APP_LINK: 'desktop', API_URL: 'https://africa.football.api.sportal365.com/', API_KEY: '2f852b4de2f3a5cf3188e74b33087bb4:2c18422f8e826a7d11aeed52edb2449e', LANG: 'en', REQUEST_INTERVAL: 30, ENABLE_BET_SLIP: false, AUTHOR: false, THEME: "light", TOURNAMENT_ORDER: "pulse_nigeria", LINK_OPTIONS_V2: { 'player' : { 'url': '/football/player/{playerId}' }, 'team' : { 'url': '/football/{teamId}' }, 'tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}' }, 'match': { 'url' : '/football/match/{matchId}', 'sort': { 'criteria': 'alphabetically', 'direction': 'asc' } }, 'configuration': { 'newWindow': false }, 'standings_tournament': { 'url': '/football/competition/{tournamentId}/standings' } } }; if (!document.querySelector('script[src="https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js"]')) { window.setTimeout(function () { let scriptCss = document.createElement('link'); scriptCss.href = 'https://www.pulsesports.co.ke/css/sport-widgets.css?v=1668785443'; scriptCss.rel = 'stylesheet'; scriptCss.type = 'text/css'; document.body.appendChild(scriptCss); let scriptTag = document.createElement('script'); scriptTag.src = 'https://widgets.sportal365.com/loader.bundle.min.js'; scriptTag.defer = true; scriptTag.onload = function () { window.setTimeout(function () { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }, 200); }; document.head.appendChild(scriptTag); }, 0); } else { new SMPWidgetsLoader(widgetLoaderConfig); }

Zirkzee was born in the Dutch city of Schiedam to a Nigerian father and Dutch mother. He represented the Netherlands through the country's youth system.

However, senior caps have so far eluded him at the Oranje level, opening the door to Nigeria.

Super Eagles star Victor Osimhen celebrates at the AFCON 2023.

With his club career finally on the rise at Bologna, where he has netted 10 goals and assisted three in the Serie A, the forward is looking to settle his international future, with the Super Eagles an option.

But the gifted striker admits choosing between his dual heritage is proving difficult ahead of a pivotal career decision.

Related content

Tags:
Joshua Zirkzee Nigeria