Man Utd have their own Roberto Firmino who has been helped by Vincent Kompany

Manchester United may have signed their own version of Roberto Firmino in Joshua Zirkzee - who says he is part striker, part No.10. Zirkzee is hoping to make his United debut in the Community Shield against Manchester City next weekend.

The striker arrived from Bologna for £36.5million last month after a brilliant season in Serie A. The 23-year-old, previously at Bayern Munich, produced 12 goals and seven assists in 37 games.

Zirkzee's contributions helped I Rossoblu finish fifth to qualify for the Champions League group stages. And they also earned him a high-profile move to Old Trafford where he will hope to become the go-to centre-forward.

The Dutchman is guaranteed to be United's starting No.9 at the start of the season with Rasmus Hojlund out injured. But he's vowed to be a very different type of frontman to the Dane.

And Zirkzee could even become the Red Devils' own Firmino. The Brazilian was the unorthodox centre-forward during Jurgen Klopp's triumphant Liverpool reign and produced 111 goals and 75 assists under the German.

Firmino's class, flair and selflessness - forming a world-class trio with wingers Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane - certified him as a Premier League legend. And United will hope Zirkzee can prove just as effective a "9.5" as the South American.

The United new boy said: "I want to play a pure game. Nutmegs, chops and back heels are moments that belong in football. That style has value for me. It's the soccer kid in me because it’s supposed to be fun too, isn't it?

"You have to pick the right moments. It's intuition. I think I have excellent skills. I spent a lot of time on that as a kid. But if I lose the ball, I want to regain it immediately with the team. But the fancy footwork is part of my game at the end of the day.

"I occasionally drop down to midfield. I don't do that for myself but to help the team. I am what I call a false striker. Not a No 9, not a No 10. I am a 9.5! That's my game. Maybe I'm a little different than others. But being different is good, right?"

Zirkzee was the second-most creative player in the Bologna squad last season with all 44 chances he created coming in open play - making him a similar threat to what Firmino was for Liverpool.

He also ranked highly in Italy's top division for dribbles attempted and take-ons inside the box. And Zirkzee admits he owes much of his development to Manchester City icon Vincent Kompany, now in charge at his old club Bayern.

The twice-capped Netherlands international enjoyed a fruitful spell working under the Belgian coach on loan at Anderlecht in 2021-22.

Discussing his 16-goal, nine-assist campaign in Belgium, Zirkzee said: "Kompany was the coach who explained so much to me about the game and the small details. That year under him was very important for my development.

"He also made sure I played all the time. At Anderlecht, under the wings of Kompany, I took some significant steps forward during that season. Things went so much better for me.

"In my time at Bayern, I wasn't that player. There I was too much in awe. I should have believed in myself more. Back then I thought I was okay, but now I have a different mentality. I don't know how else to explain it.

"I think back then I wasn't even half the player I am now. I thought I was good enough to become Bayern's first striker right away, but I wasn't ready for that at all. It was very good that I took a step back to find out what it really takes to succeed at the top."

Zirkzee is currently preparing for the campaign at Carrington in Manchester while Erik ten Hag's United squad finish up their pre-season tour of the United States. The Red Devils return to England after facing Liverpool in South Carolina in the early hours of Monday morning.