BRIGHT VAN MAN

Zirkzee grew up dreaming that he was a Ruud boy

- DAVID ANDERSON

JOSHUA ZIRKZEE says he grew up pretending to be Ruud van Nistelrooy when he watched him star for Manchester United and Holland.

United’s first summer signing remembers marvelling at the former striker when he was small and is excited his fellow Dutchman has joined Erik ten Hag’s coaching team.

Van Nistelrooy (below) banged in 150 goals in just 219 games for United between 2001 and 2006 and Zirkzee says he wanted to be him when he played with his friends as a kid.

“Yeah obviously, when I was younger, watching the Dutch national team and Man United, he was one of the guys you pretended to be when you were playing out with your friends,” Zirkzee said in his first interview since joining United.

“So having him now here is a bit special. It’s great, it’s good.”