“Some youngsters get overawed. Not Adnan. I realised that when he came to train with the first team soon after I joined. I decided to take him on tour with the first team within minutes of watching him. He wasn't timid but hungry to succeed. 'He's a wonderfully gifted player with great balance and the ability to go past people. When I see his poise on the ball, he has characteristics of Johan Cruyff.” – David Moyes
Though his ill-fated tenure at Old Trafford came to an abrupt end after 10 long months, David Moyes handed one of the most promising academy youngsters his debut – a then 19-year-old Belgian in the name of Adnan Januzaj.
The wideman, who joined United’s youth academy from the esteemed Anderlecht production line as a 16-year-old, is considered to be one of the most exciting prospects at Old Trafford. So much so that Januzaj, despite being pitted into the U-18 arena, made frequent appearances for Warre Joyce’s U-21 troops. The Brussels-born winger was named as a substitute for Sir Alex Ferguson’s last home game in charge, wearing the No. 44 jersey after being promoted to the senior squad.
A player who possessed electric pace and the ability to burn through defences like a hot knife through a block of butter, Januzaj enjoyed a sublime debut season under Moyes. The Belgian is a rare breed of technical ability and skill combined with intelligence off the ball, which enabled him to make purposeful runs to help with the team’s fluidity in attack.
He had the potential ingredients to become a key cog in Man Utd’s team for years to come. If he continued to improve at the impressive rate that he won plaudits for during his debut season, he would have surely given Jesse Lingard a run for his money in the current Jose Moruinho set-up.
David Moyes recollects the Belgian to be one of the brightest sparks of his side’s pre-season tour of the United States. Little did he know that Januzaj, who enjoyed his breakthrough season under the former Everton manager, was one of the only few rays of hope during his infamous stint at Manchester United. His natural talent was there for everyone to see on the biggest stage, and he was seen as a valuable player for the future.
The day he truly announced himself at Manchester United was when he scored a brace against Sunderland which included a clever finish and a stunning left-footed volley from the edge of the box. His heroics won him a Man of the Match award, helping his side win the match 2-1.
Once seen as the potential heir to the retiring Ryan Giggs, Januzaj donned the Welsh wizard’s No. 11 jersey for the following season under Louis van Gaal. His season was unspectacular, to say the least, only managing 21 appearances over the course of the season.
Januzaj altered his physique by a considerable degree before van Gaal’s second season in charge, by undergoing an extensive training regime in Dubai to help improve his ability to hold up the ball, much like Mesut Ozil’s bulking up to suit the Premier League’s demands following his switch from La Liga.
The following season saw his stock at United fall significantly, and this time for a number of reasons. Louis van Gaal, being Louis van Gaal, saw Januzaj being a No.10 rather than his preferred role out wide – much like he did with Memphis Depay, with both experiments failing miserably.
After having played a couple of games in the new season, the Dutchman chose to send him out to gain some experience and agreed to let him go when Borussia Dortmund came calling.
A move to a club such as Thomas Tuchel’s side seemed like the perfect move for the young winger, but his stay at the Signal Iduna Park was anything but useful for him for a number of reasons. Tuchel was less than impressed with Januzaj’s attitude in Germany, claiming that the move faltered because a part of him was "still in Manchester".
"I never had the feeling Adnan was here with his whole heart, but rather that a part of him stayed in Manchester and compared everything with Man United," the former Mainz coach told German newspaper Bild.
"We were not able to help him let go of it. Sadly, he wasn't in it with the motivation and attitude you need to further yourself at this age."
Once he returned to Manchester after his season-long loan deal was cut short midway, he found himself playing regularly for Warren Joyce’s U-21 side with a couple of first team cameos under his belt.
The prodigal playmaker is now wanted at Wearside, by the man who once compared him to Johan Cruyff. David Moyes was appointed as Black Cats manager after Sam Allardyce was announced as Roy Hodgson’s replacement as the head coach of England. The Scot must now prepare for a relegation battle and has already begun working on reshaping his squad, having sealed a deal for Chelsea flop Papy Djilobodji for £8 million.
Man United duo Paddy McNair and Donald love have also signed, and Moyes aims to further raid his old club to land Adnan Januzaj. United, though, might not want to let the Belgian starlet go on a permanent deal to avoid an embarrassing, and not to mention an expensive, repeat of the great Paul Pogba scenario. His immediate future at Old Trafford is in doubt under Jose Mourinho, who is likely to sanction a loan deal before the transfer window closes.
Loan deal or a permanent one, reuniting with David Moyes is ideally the best possible move for Januzaj, a player with immense potential, but who requires a spark to kickstart his career. Still only 21, the former Anderlecht man has time on his side to become a player capable of tearing apart defences anywhere in the world and gives defenders nightmares.
A player of his calibre with valuable of experience under his belt will always be welcome back at Manchester United. The boy who was once considered to be United’s answer to Chelsea hero Eden Hazard must now prove his mettle in the Premier League and fight for his place at Old Trafford.
