Mourinho said that Adnan Januzaj’s future has been decided when queried on just what his plans for the young Kosovo-born was.
Who imagined such a backward growth 4 years after the 22-year old rose above the veterans in the United squad to drag over a win against Sunderland,scoring two goals in the process.
Chants of the new Ronaldo and Messi were rolled out immediately and within a short time then coach DavidMoyes got him to commit to a 5-year deal in a desperate attempt to shield the young light away from the elite predators of European football. It was the time when the Red Devils were facing the prospect of having a heavy crash off their perch as Moyes’ first season in the club kept looking like a nightmare.
United’s abject display for much of the first season in the post-Ferguson era connived to give Januzaj the kind of opportunities hardly bestowed on teenagers anywhere in the world much less a club of United’s stature.
The following season under was expected to be a proper break out season for the youngster.Unfortunately, by January,he was on the plane to Borussia Dortmund for the rest of the season. A return of 6 appearances and 0 goals showed Adnan didn’t fare better in Germany.
Jose Mourinho’s appointment however brought opportunity for a fresh start. Still, the familiar demons and complains of his sluggishness on the field and inability to prove himself on the training ground meant Mourinho found it hard to include him in his plans.
Januzaj faces a season of uncertainty after returning from a yet again underwhelming loan spell at Sunderland this time. Whatever happens, the lingering thought that he didn’t make the best of the opportunities at Old Trafford is set to linger on for a long time to come.