Zidane Iqbal is enjoying his time at FC Utrecht, and it’s been two years since he left Manchester United.
Breaking into the first team at Manchester United is never easy. The competition is intense, and every academy player hopes to be one of the few who makes the jump to regular senior football.
In 2023, Alejandro Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo were among those who managed it, playing key roles in the club’s FA Cup win over Manchester City that year.
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In recent transfer windows, though, United have been more open to letting young talent leave. But they’ve been careful to include buy-back and sell-on clauses in many of those deals.
The moves paid off for both players. McTominay went on to captain Scotland in their 2026 World Cup campaign, while Elanga established himself as a consistent performer at Forest before joining Dortmund in 2028.
Europa League draw puts Zidane Iqbal on course to face Antony’s Betis
Another player who came up through the Manchester United academy is Zidane Iqbal, who left the club in search of regular playing time.
The midfielder, who grew up in Manchester, moved to the Netherlands in 2023 to join FC Utrecht and start his professional career.
Iqbal made history as the first British-born South Asian to play for both United and in the Champions League. He now plays internationally for Iraq.
He has been sidelined since April with a knee injury that required surgery but has recently been participating in friendly matches as he works his way back. Meanwhile, Utrecht’s Europa League campaign is starting to take shape.
Speaking with RTV Utrecht, Iqbal talked about his excitement ahead of matches against clubs like Celtic and Real Betis. The fixture against Betis will put him up against former United winger Antony.
“I’m really looking forward to the away matches against Real Betis and Celtic,” Iqbal said. “Those are the games you dream of as a player. Of course, I hope to get some minutes. I’m waiting for my chance, and when it comes, I’ll take it.”
Iqbal’s path at Utrecht may still be taking shape, but he could end up getting minutes across an eight-game European group stage featuring plenty of notable names: Porto, Real Betis, Lyon, Celtic, Nottingham Forest, Freiburg KRC Genk and SK Brann.
Meanwhile back at Old Trafford there won’t be any European football this season following a disappointing campaign under Erik ten Hag.
How Zidane Iqbal is settling into life in the Netherlands
Zidane Iqbal has spoken about feeling homesick since making the move from Manchester.
It’s been an adjustment for the midfielder, who talked about his eagerness to return from injury in a conversation with Andy Mitten earlier this summer.
In an interview with The National, Iqbal spoke about how he is finding life in the Netherlands: “Good.
“At the start, in 2023, I was injured and homesick, but I’ve got over that period. Last season was a big learning curve. I’m injured now, but I hope to be back on the pitch soon and playing because I’ve got a taste of what it’s like to be starting week in, week out and being key for the team.
“I became a starter for Utrecht, a team who were third and fourth in the Eredivisie for most of the season – a good season for us. That happened after we lost 5-2 to PSV. I didn’t play in that one, but the gaffer [head coach Ron Jans] told me I was starting for the next match – away to Ajax. And from that game until I got injured in mid-April, I started.”
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