Prodigy Januzaj's Manchester United journey sees low-key end

Manchester United have shipped former Anderlecht player Andan Januzaj to Real Sociedad, cutting ties with their faltering prodigy in a deal reportedly worth £9.8m. 

The insistence on a buy-back clause from Ed Woodward’s side as to avoid another embarrassing Paul Pogba-esque scenario was understandable. There is no doubt about Januzaj’s talent, but unfortunately, he has joined the list of players such as Ravel Morrison, once touted as the future, who disappeared without trace. 

A player with electric pace and the ability to burn through defences, Januzaj enjoyed a sublime debut season under former Manchester United coach David Moyes in 2013. The Belgian has technical ability and skill combined with intelligence off the ball, which helped the team’s fluidity in attack. 

The wide man, who joined United’s youth academy from the Anderlecht production line as a 16-year-old, was considered to be one of the most exciting prospects at Old Trafford. So much so that Januzaj, despite being fitted into the U-18 side, made frequent appearances for Warren Joyce’s U-21 team. The winger was named as a substitute for Sir Alex Ferguson’s last home game, after being promoted to the senior squad. 

The day Januzaj 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 in 2014. His season was unspectacular, to say the least, only managing 21 appearances in all. 

Januzaj worked on his physique 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. 

The following season saw his stock at United fall significantly. van Gaal saw Januzaj as a no.10 rather than his preferred role out wide – much like he did with Memphis Depay, with both experiments failing miserably. 

After 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 in 2015. 

A move to a club such as Thomas Tuchel’s side seemed like the perfect one for the young winger, but his stay at the Signal Iduna Park was anything but useful. Januzaj failed to start in a single Bundesliga game. Tuchel was less than impressed with Januzaj’s attitude, claiming that the move faltered because a part of Januzaj 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. 

Once he returned to Manchester after his season-long loan deal was cut short midway, Januzaj found himself playing regularly for Warren Joyce’s U-21 side with a couple of first team cameos under his belt. 

The playmaker was next wanted at Wearside in 2016 by David Moyes, who once compared him to Johan Cruyff. Even reuniting with the man who showed so much faith in him didn’t seem to work for the Belgian. His season was underwhelming, much like with his very team, and Sunderland were the first team to be relegated from the Premier League last season. 

The situation today is a far cry from when elite clubs were chasing Januzaj before Manchester United caught him and signed him to a five-year deal in October 2013. 

It was perhaps better for the Belgian to take a step away from the Manchester United spotlight after his underwhelming days at Sunderland. The last thing the 22-year-old would want is the expectation that comes from being a Manchester United player to weigh him down at Real Sociedad. 

The midfield is where Januzaj needs to be to use his skills. The less physical style and play of the La Liga might actually suit the gifted winger.