Rohr Labels Bayern's Zirkzee 'A Fantastic Talent', Admits It Won't Be Easy For Nigeria To Lure Him

Former Bayern Munich defender Gernot Rohr has admitted that it will be difficult for the Nigeria Football Federation to convince Joshua Zirkzee to pledge his international future to the Super Eagles.

The Royal Dutch Football Association are aware that Nigeria are on Zirkzee's case and named the teenage Bayern Munich striker in the Netherlands U21s provisional squad for their European Championship qualifiers against Belarus and Portugal in March, but both games were later postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.

The 19-year-old became provisionally cap-tied to his country of birth on October 13, 2017 when he made his competitive debut for the U17 team in a European Championship qualifier against Hungary.

Rohr saw firsthand the qualities of Zirkzee when he personally scouted him on his full Bundesliga debut against Hoffenheim three months ago, and he has labelled the Bayern Munich number 35 a fantastic talent.

Speaking on the chances of more foreign-based players coming into the Super Eagles squad, Rohr told Colin Udoh in an Instagram conversation monitored by allnigeriasoccer.com : "There is also Zirkzee of Bayern Munich, he's a fantastic talent also but he's playing already for Holland and it's not easy to have them.

"They must give us the sign to come, we are here and we show them there is hope for them and if they want to play in the World Cup and AFCON with us they are welcome but they must decide."

Schiedam-born Zirkzee has collected 26 caps for Netherlands youth teams, scoring 14 goals, with eight of them for the U19 squad.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

Photo Credit : fcbayern.com