Having announced himself on the big stage with two excellent goals in a 2-1 win against Sunderland in his first start for the club at the start of last season, it looked like Adnan Januzaj had the world at his feet.
There was already a full blown national debate when England offered him a chance to represent them though the teenager wisely turned down the offer because he would have had to wait for four more years to get be eligible to play for them.
He went on to make 31 appearances in all competitions for United and even turned out for Belgium for about an hour at the World Cup.
With the arrival of Louis van Gaal to Manchester United at the start of the season, the future could have not looked brighter because the Dutch tactician is renowned for easing in young players in title winning sides.
But halfway into the season, the winger has started just four times in the league and was dire as were the rest of his teammates when given the full 90 in his side’s FA Cup stalemate at lowly Cambridge United.
A player of his quality should really be getting more than the 435 minutes he has got in the league with all four of his starts coming in a row at the turn of October. United won just one of those games, against Palace at home, Van Gaal reverted back to his 3-5-2 formation at the Emirates and his side went on an 11 game unbeaten run in which Januzaj barely featured.
In the past two and a half months, he has featured just twice in the league and they were cameo appearances, both against Stoke City.
Januzaj clearly is not favoured as wing back priding himself as a number ten, behind the striker, and is getting highly upset with every passing week at the lack of regular football.
The £300,000 signing from Anderlecht was handed Ryan Giggs’ No. 11 jersey at the start of the season, but that didn’t command with it an automatic place in the side in light of several big name signings United made in the summer.
The likes of Juan Mata, Angel di Maria and Radamel Falcao will obviously be given preference over the teenager, and with United concentrating on a top four place, appearances in the FA Cup would not do any favour to Januzaj who should be playing as much football as he can.
Just look at the rise of Raheem Sterling 30 miles to the west of Old Trafford and how he has grown into one of the most exciting prospects not only in the country but also the world.
Since there is no way that United will let him go, they rejected advances from Paris Saint Germain both in the summer as well as the January transfer window, he should really be allowed to leave on a half season loan where he can continue with his development away from the prying eyes that the media unfortunately have at all big clubs.
David Moyes continues to be a huge admirer of Januzaj’s talent having been responsible for helping him make his breakthrough last season, and he is quite interested in taking the youngster on loan at his new club Real Sociedad.
Premier League strugglers Aston Villa haven’t scored a goal in five league games since they drew with United themselves last month, and they could surely do with the Belgian’s quality going forward.
Louis van Gaal is adamant that Januzaj won’t be leaving, on loan or a permanent transfer, but he really should be wary of stunting the winger’s growth as well as fostering discord lest the Belgian thinks about leaving the club altogether.