Wout Weghorst grabs his chance to take centre stage with Man United loan deal

Netherlands striker seizes opportunity late in his career after making impact at World Cup

Wout Weghorst of the Netherlands, left, celebrates after scoring during the World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between the Netherlands and Argentina, at the Lusail Stadium in Lusail, Qatar, Friday, Dec. 9, 2022. (AP Photo / Ariel Schalit)

Wout Weghorst of the Netherlands celebrates after scoring his side's second goal in the World Cup quarter-final against Argentina. AP

Netherlands' Wout Weghorst scores his side's first goal against Argentina. PA

Wout Weghorst of the Netherlands scores their second goal past Enzo Fernandez of Argentina in the World Cup quarter-final. Getty

The Netherlands' Wout Weghorst scores his side's second goal to level the score at 2-2. PA

Wout Weghorst of the Netherlands scores past Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez in the penalty shoot-out. AP

Netherlands manager Louis van Gaal consoles Wout Weghorst after their defeat in the penalty shoot-out against Argentina. PA

The Netherlands' Wout Weghorst and manager manager Louis van Gaal after the defeat to Argentina. PA

The Netherlands' Wout Weghorst after the defeat to Argentina. PA

Argentina's players taunt the Netherlands team after their victory on penalties. PA

The Netherlands' Wout Weghorst is consoled by Danny Blind. PA

The Netherlands' Wout Weghorst reacts after a decision goes against him against Argentina. PA

Global fame comes to some sporting professionals late in life, through a match-deciding moment or a brief proximity to greatness.

For Wout Weghorst, there have been three celebrated moments in the space of a few short weeks that made him, at the age of 30, much more of a household name.

Lionel Messi created one of them. The Argentinian, usually rather bland in front of a microphone, fired a tetchy remark at someone off camera after his country’s see-saw quarter-final against the Netherlands at last month’s World Cup.

“What are you looking at, you fool, get out of here!” Messi said, live on air, as a Dutch player gave him a glance that irritated Messi during a post-match interview.

The "fool"? It was Weghorst. “At least Messi knows who I am now,” joked the striker later.

Cristiano Ronaldo also now knows clearly who Weghorst is, because as of this weekend, he will be effectively replacing the Portuguese star as the impact centre-forward at Manchester United.

Those are big boots to fill, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for a footballer who has journeyed through several leagues and who barely imagined, when he leapt at the chance to join Burnley in a relegation scrap at the bottom of the English Premier League that, 12 months later, he would, by way of a stint at Besiktas, be joining an English superclub contesting four possible trophies.

United have signed Weghorst on a six-month loan, the striker having cancelled, for a fee, the second half of his year-long loan at Besiktas from Burnley. He has answered a specific request from his compatriot Erik ten Hag, the United manager, to fill a part of the gap left by the departed Ronaldo. “In our balance [of attacking players], he really fits,” explained ten Hag.

Wout Weghorst of the Netherlands scores his team's second goal in the World Cup quarter-final against Argentina at Lusail Stadium in December 2022. Getty

Weghorst will stand out in team photos, towering above even Harry Maguire. Ten Hag values him for his strength in the air, his targetman qualities and skill at using his tall, 1.97-metre frame to shield the ball.

But he is more nimble on the turn than his lankiness might suggest. The wider world knows, thanks to last month’s other big moment of fame, how cunning and agile in tight spaces he can be. None of Weghorst’s 176 goals in his senior career have gathered as much admiration as the 101st-minute finish, from a pre-rehearsed free-kick routine that confounded Argentina at the Lusail stadium.

Little wonder Messi found Weghorst an irritant. The imaginative set-piece – Weghorst neatly receiving, turning and shooting after his former AZ Alkmaar colleague Teun Koopmeiners bypassed the defensive wall with a low pass – pushed the tie into extra-time and penalties. The free-kick manoeuvre was Weghorst’s idea, germinated during his successful spell at Wolfsburg where a similarly executed free-kick had worked before.

He scored twice against Argentina, having come on as a half-time substitute, his first goal a precise glancing header, more typical of the Weghorst portfolio. “I don’t think we have his type,” said ten Hag of the United newcomer, “he can score goals from everywhere, a team player who will also do the defensive work.”

Ten Hag has been monitoring Weghorst’s ascent for a decade. United’s Dutch manager began his senior coaching career in the Netherlands in the same second division where Weghorst made his debut for Emmen. The striker would make his top-flight debut relatively late, aged 22, after joining Heracles.

Man United 2 Man City 1 - player ratings

MANCHESTER UNITED RATINGS: David De Gea - 7, City had more possession but fewer chances in the first half – just one shot to United’s four. A couple of poor balls out and couldn’t do much for City’s goal. Getty

Tyrell Malacia - 9, His best United game. Made a fine run on a 32nd minute counter attack but the pass from Fernandes didn’t come to him. Excellent cutting out a 54th minute De Bruyne ball. Targeted in the last derby, a 3-6 defeat. Much better in this one, though a 75th minute cross was a poor one. PA

Luke Shaw - 9, Surprise starter and busy as City put a lot of balls into the United box. Took the ball off Bernardo to break up a 54th minute City attack. Roared on after a 94th minute interception which stopped a City attack. And again in the 95th minute. AFP

Raphael Varane - 9, He’s brilliant. Followed Haaland closely and bested him throughout. Rapid when clearing up loose ball, snuffing attacks out. Went towards J Stand at the end and bellowed in celebration with the fans. This is why he joined United. Magnificent performance. Reuters

Aaron Wan-Bissaka - 8, Big test for the man – and he was up to it. Grew stronger in the second half, battled, won tackles and even had a shot on goal. AFP

Fred - 8, Man-marked De Bruyne. Two super tackles on him after 18, to huge cheers. Energy to the end. Like a rat up a drainpipe. Magnificent. EPA

Casemiro - 8, Headed corners away. Blocked Haaland’s shot on 24. Couldn’t get close enough to De Bruyne as he set up City’s opener. Ball towards Rashford set up the equaliser – though Fernandes converted it. Helped United be so good out of possession. PA

Christian Eriksen - 6, Played in the No 10 role and put Fernandes in for an early shot. Combined well with Rashford in a 37th minute attack. Booked for a second foul on Grealish and brought off soon after. PA

Bruno Fernandes - 8, Played on the right, defended well, pressed well. Manager’s man of the match. Shot wide after 11 following an Eriksen assist. Poor ball towards Malacia on 32 as United countered. Lofted a clever ball forward. Then he equalised – what a (controversial) moment. Getty

Anthony Martial - 5, Surprise start given his manager said he was injured. Effective when coming back early in the game and linking up on the attacks, but he didn’t press as he should – and did against City in previous derbies. Off at half time. Getty

Marcus Rashford - 8, Linked with those around him. Broke on 33 and shot but it was easily cleared. Burned Rodri off on 37 but ran out of space as Ederson came out and made a top save. Pulled up soon after and it looked like he’d have to leave the field at half time. He didn’t and stayed on to get the 82nd minute winner, the ninth consecutive game he’s scored in. AFP

SUBS: Antony - 5, On for Martial at half time. Didn’t do much. Reuters

Alejandro Garnacho - 7, On for Eriksen after 71. Energetic and ran down left. Tried to cross, the ball hit Ake’s face and came back to him. He turned, then hit a left footed cross towards Rashford for the winner. EPA

Harry Maguire N/A. Lisandro Martinez N/A. Scott McTominay N/A. Reuters

MANCHESTER CITY RATINGS: Ederson - 5, Looked shaky at times, notably rushing out and being beaten to the ball by Rashford, but did well to smother the United forward later in the first half. Little he could have done about the goals. PA

Kyle Walker - 6, Was solid for large periods, notably stepping out to stop Fernandes’ pass to Malacia, and got forward well with one ambitious shot fizzing agonisingly wide before half time. Was beaten by Fernandes for the equaliser. PA

Manuel Akanji - 6, Cleared Rashford’s shot off the line then stopped Martial getting off a convincing header. Did superbly to stop Malacia’s ball through, then halted Garnacho’s run but was involved as Fernandes equalised then completely lost Rashford as United went ahead. AFP

Nathan Ake - 6, Wasn’t afraid to step out and make an impact, whether that was on the ball or winning it back. However, he was turned by Garnacho before the substitute set up the winner. AP

Joao Cancelo - 7, Showed early intent with a burst forward while also defending well, notably reaching Martial’s pass ahead of Rashford and heading away Shaw’s cross. AFP

Kevin De Bruyne - 8, Was frustrated by Fred early on but his influence grew as the game progressed with the Belgian’s delightful dink setting up Grealish’s opener. Couldn’t quite unlock United’s defence as City chased the equaliser. EPA

Rodrigo - 7, Put in a lot of strong defensive work, winning the ball back when United threatened to break forward and doing well to keep Rashford under pressure when he was bearing down on goal. PA

Bernardo Silva - 5, Dropped deep to get the ball in the first half but played a poor pass that resulted in a chance for Fernandes. Couldn’t quite play Haaland through, then tried to head the ball back when there was the chance to go for goal. AFP

Riyad Mahrez - 6, Was frustrated by the amount of times Malacia fouled him in the first half and had a poor pass cut out in a promising position. Played a lovely flick to help a De Bruyne burst forward. Getty

Erling Haaland - 5, Tried to come deep to get on the ball and saw his one real shot blocked by Casemiro. Made a strong defensive header from a United corner but was unable to get a shot off before Casemiro tackled him. AFP

Phil Foden - 4, Was very quiet and was caught offside a few times. Couldn’t get a convincing header on De Bruyne’s cross and played a poor pass in a promising position. Hooked after 57 minutes. EPA

SUB: Jack Grealish (Foden, 57’) - 8, Made an instant impact as he headed home De Bruyne’s cross, then continued to get on the ball. His late cross required a superb defensive header from Shaw. AFP

From there he moved to AZ, where he struck goals at a ratio of more than one every other game and developed a productive relationship with the Iranian winger Alireza Jahanbakhsh.

Weghorst’s presence in the penalty area should be appreciated by United’s crossers, from Luke Shaw to Jadon Sancho, when the latter returns from injury.

At Wolfsburg, who he joined from AZ, Weghorst’s goals – 70 in 144 games – were key to Champions League qualification in 2021-22. He left that January for Burnley, where his record would be mixed. The club were relegated, Weghorst scored just twice in the losing battle against the drop and last summer preferred Besiktas to a season in the Championship.

In Turkey, he has thrived again. Since the World Cup, where he was mostly used off the Netherlands' bench, he has notched the seventh, eighth and ninth goals of his loan spell.

He’d like to carry that form to United, across League and FA Cups, league and Europa League, even if in the Premier League he will begin his adventure with a role as impact substitute, doing some of what Ronaldo did in his last months at the club – only without all the complaining.