Freiburg's Manzambi scores third World Cup goal to intensify Manchester United interest

Johan Manzambi delivered another eye-catching World Cup performance as Switzerland edged Canada 2-1 in their Group B finale in Vancouver on Wednesday, scoring his third goal of the tournament to deepen speculation over a summer move to Manchester United. The 20-year-old Freiburg forward, valued at around £43 million, started on the right wing and doubled Switzerland’s lead in the second half before the final whistle confirmed their progression to the knockout stages.

Manzambi’s form in the United States has placed him firmly in the conversation as United look to recruit a player capable of operating in an advanced midfield role or as a forward. The club have also been linked with West Ham’s Mateus Fernandes in a similar profile, but Manzambi’s consistent output across the group stage has made him increasingly difficult to overlook.

United are not the only club paying close attention. Bayern Munich legend Thomas Müller publicly backed the Bundesliga forward for a move to the Allianz Arena, speaking on MagentaTV after the Canada game. “He’s a good player overall. We’ve had him on our list for a while now,” Müller said. “For me, he’s someone, and now we can make a headline that FC Bayern should also consider. You can sense his flexibility. You can also sense his carefree attitude. At the same time, you can already see a certain maturity in his actions, in his decision-making, his work ethic.”

Müller’s endorsement adds a significant competitive dimension to any potential pursuit by United. With Switzerland guaranteed at least one more knockout fixture, Manzambi has further opportunities to build on a tournament tally that has already drawn admiration from across European football.

Whether United move beyond reported interest into a formal approach remains to be seen, but the combination of his World Cup performances, his Bundesliga pedigree at Freiburg, and now open competition from Bayern Munich means the club’s decision-makers will need to act with clarity as the summer window progresses.