Manchester United Fans Disappointed as Zidane Iqbal Departs for Utrecht
Manchester United fans were left disappointed by the news that academy star Zidane Iqbal is set to depart for Eredivisie side Utrecht for just €1million [£850,000]. The 20-year-old is an Iraq international and has one senior club appearance to his name, coming against Young Boys in the 2021/22 Champions League. Outside of that, he’s starred for the academy, but hasn’t been afforded any minutes by manager Erik ten Hag, despite making the first team bench on 17 occasions last season.
Price Raises Eyebrows
The price has raised some eyebrows, with Iqbal signing his first professional contract in 2021. A sell-on clause has been included in a four-year deal, but supporters were still gutted to see such a talent slip through their fingers. One Twitter user wrote: “The club stopped him from going on loan, didn’t play a minute during the season, and didn’t let him go for the U20 World Cup. Then shipped out, for peanuts! This sale is one that hurts so much.” Another added: “This is embarrassing, how do we sell such talent? Come on!”
Ten Hag Shows Faith in Academy Stars
Despite the criticism, Ten Hag has shown faith in a number of other academy stars, with Alejandro Garnacho featuring in 34 games last season. His breakthrough has seen him included among the Golden Boy nominations. Facundo Pellistri ended up notching 10 appearances after links to a move away, while Kobbie Mainoo and Charlie McNeill both got minutes for the first team.
Heading Out for Less Than £1million
Iqbal is heading out of the club for less than £1million, which has left many fans questioning why the club didn’t loan him out instead. One fan wrote: “Absolute disgrace, he never got the chance, should’ve loaned him…” Another fan pointed out that the sale price was equivalent to just 2.5 weeks of goalkeeper David de Gea’s wages.
Iqbal’s Departure Leaves Fans Disappointed
On a United fan’s Instagram page, Iqbal appeared to confirm his exit by writing ‘thank you’ in response to a post that said: “Watched Zidane Iqbal for years. Top guy and a really talented footballer. All the best. First British South Asian footballer in Manchester United’s history…hopefully our paths will cross again.” Despite the disappointment felt by fans, it remains to be seen whether Iqbal will go on to have a successful career at Utrecht.