Adnan Januzaj was arguably one of the few bright sparks of the miserable David Moyes administration at Manchester United.
In a season where his team struggled, the then 18-year-old took responsibility and along with David de Gea was one of the only players to come out of that nightmare campaign with a better reputation than when it started.
He was managed well by the Scot, used sparingly but still often enough to have a genuine breakthrough season. In his 27 appearances he scored four goals and created countless more; it seemed that United had found their new talisman and he was destined to truly take his place at the top of European football.
12 months later and the Belgian’s career has stalled. From being the new Ronaldo he is now a man on the peripheries under Louis van Gaal. Rather than trusted as a winger he has been shunted around the team, a square peg in an ever growing number of different round holes; right back, left back, central midfield, number ten and a striker, to name a few.
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The signing of Angel Di Maria always meant it would be difficult for the 20-year-old to command the same sort of consistent role he had enjoyed in the season previous. However, as United’s ever growing injury list continued to extend, he still finds himself no closer to being part of Van Gaal’s plans.
Whether the Dutchman simply doesn’t rate Januzaj or whether he feels other players suit his team more; Van Gaal is clearly not sold on the Belgian. Never was this made clearer than in their home defeat to West Brom; with United chasing the game and needing to break down a resolute Albion, the manager decided that his enigmatic winger was better off sitting on the bench than influencing the game.
It is now four months since his first start and he is now beginning to struggle to get any playing time at all, even finding himself behind the much maligned Ashley Young in the wide man pecking order.
With the signing of Memphis Depay it seems that Januzaj could find his time even more limited at Old Trafford in the coming season, from a man who Gary Neville predicted could be “one of the best players in the world”, it has been a chastening season.
Even in his limited opportunities, he seems a shell of a player that sparkled last term, whether his attacking instincts are being curbed by his pragmatic manager is unknown, but something is certainly awry.
With rumours circulating United were interested in using him as part of the Depay deal, he is clearly not high on their list of priorities. After being given the famous number 11 jersey of Ryan Giggs last summer it seemed for all the world that the stage was set for a new star to take centre stage but he is still stood in the rafters, waiting to make his real entrance.
If 2014 was a year of hype and excitement surrounding Januzaj, 2015 is one of frustration and missed opportunities. Unless things change 2016 could prove to be his last in a United shirt.
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