Pep Guardiola has ignited the biggest controversy of the season after delivering one of the most brutal reviews ever seen from a Premier League manager — and his target is a Manchester United summer signing who cost the club a massive fee.
“Uptill now I don’t know why Man United went and spent such a huge sum of money to sign him. He’s just a waste to me. Against a relegation team he cannot make an impact.”
With those explosive words, Pep has reportedly named the ONE Manchester United signing he considers the worst transfer he has ever seen since arriving in the Premier League.
And the player he singled out?
Joshua Zirkzee.
According to sources close to the Manchester City manager, Pep was left baffled watching United struggle against West Ham and other low-block opponents this season. He allegedly told members of his technical team that Zirkzee — the player United paid big money for — “doesn’t scare defenders, doesn’t stretch the line, and doesn’t offer the output expected from a modern striker.”
One insider revealed that Pep was shocked by how ineffective Zirkzee looked in a match United desperately needed to win, saying:
“He doesn’t influence the game. He touches the ball and nothing changes. For that price, a striker must dominate matches, not disappear.”
Pep reportedly went further, saying Zirkzee’s playing style “lacks urgency, lacks intensity, and lacks any form of direct threat,” comparing him unfavourably even to academy forwards who show more raw hunger on the pitch.
Some members of City’s staff were stunned by his unexpected rant, but Pep doubled down, claiming United’s decision to build their attack around Zirkzee was “a mistake that was obvious from day one.”
The comment “worst signing I’ve seen since I came to this league” has already set social media on fire. Manchester United fans are divided:
– Some agree, complaining that Zirkzee has gone missing in big games.
– Others accuse Pep of mind-games, trying to destabilise a young striker already under pressure.
– Neutral fans are shocked that Guardiola, usually measured and respectful, has gone full attack mode on a rival’s player.
Inside Manchester United, the atmosphere is reportedly tense. Zirkzee is aware of the criticism and is said to be deeply frustrated by his lack of goals. Coaches fear that Pep’s public takedown could affect his confidence even further.
But Pep didn’t stop there.
He reportedly told a confidant:
“If you pay that kind of money for a striker, he must deliver instantly. This one… I don’t see anything. Nothing. He doesn’t improve them.”
This may become one of the most talked-about quotes of the season — a Premier League rivalry moment that could haunt Zirkzee or spark a transformation.
One thing is sure:
Pep Guardiola has never spoken about a Manchester United signing like this before…
and the fallout is only just beginning.
