admin Man Utd have agreed to sell Zidane Iqbal in the summer transfer window after a frustrating season.
It was the season Zidane Iqbal joined Manchester United. Rather, it should be his last.
The 20-year-old was perhaps the standout player on United’s pre-season tour last summer, but despite being highly regarded within the club, he left the club for good this week.
The Manchester Evening News on Tuesday night confirmed reports that United had accepted an offer from FC Utrecht believed to be worth around one million euros.
Iqbal will complete a medical on Monday and will sign a four-year deal with the Dutch side, ending his 11-year spell at the club.
For many United fans, this is bitter medicine. While pre-season performances are not always an accurate indication of a player’s suitability for the first team (see Andreas Pereira 2015-2021), there has always been a sense that more was expected from Iqbal.
One of the few professional footballers of British Asian descent, he is not only an off-field pioneer, but a game-changer with incredible technical prowess.
Next Wednesday will mark one year since he agreed to a new contract that will keep him at United until at least June 2025, with an option for a further year.
It would have taken a lot of work for the Willie Mountains-born midfielder to reach his potential, but no one could have imagined he would be gone for good in less than a year. I guess.
United fans were stunned by Iqbal’s influence in the opening pre-season game and saw him as the ideal addition for a manager who values the technical ability and attitude of his players.
There was a lot of interest in his loan move during his time with the club, but it was decided to stay at United and follow his progress.
Iqbal made his first-team debut in the Champions League against Young Boys a year ago, making his only appearance for the club. Last season he was called up to 17 matchday teams but failed to make it to the first team under manager Erik ten Haag.
Instead, his chance came again at U21 level. At U21 level he was too comfortable and lacked meaningful challenges to help him as a player.
It was inevitable that he would leave this summer, but to my surprise it was a permanent exit rather than a first loan move to gauge his true standing.
Iqbal’s departure this summer was understood to have been planned early last season, with the only variable being a loan or a permanent exit.
United wanted to get the most out of him during his time at the club and felt he was supporting the first team at a high level during training. But in the end, they thought 1 million euros was a fair reflection of his current talent. The deal also includes a significant resale clause, which could mean even more profit for the club.
What hurts United fans the most is that he didn’t get the chance. I know he may never actually be in the top team at Old Trafford, but it’s a real shame we never know if he will.
Iqbal considered a loan move in January, but Ten Haag vetoed the decision after Scott McTominay, Donny van de Beek and Christian Eriksen were sidelined through injury. .
Frustration prevailed last month when Ten Hag refused Iqbal permission to take Iraq to the U20 World Cup, a surprising decision considering he had no senior appointments. rice field.
This was a great opportunity for the youngsters and would have been the perfect platform to further develop their profile ahead of the summer period. This could have resulted in higher service charges.
The fact that United have approved the sale means they are unlikely to have the success he hopes for and that a fresh start this summer was in the best interest of all involved. It suggests.
Iqbal has also not benefited from the rapid rise of Koby Mainu, who has overtaken him in the pecking order despite being two years younger. It also serves as a reminder of the ruthlessness of future careers and affirms the reality that if you don’t improve your career, you will be left behind.
His future goal is to make up for lost time. Iqbal recently changed his agency, signing with the same agency as Ten Haag, Sports Entertainment Group, on the promise of a move to the Eredivisie.
His upcoming move to Utrecht gives him the chance to do just that, with the ultimate motivation to prove United and ten Haag wrong from the start.
United put on a reckless series. You now have to hope it wasn’t too far.
