What Does the Future Hold for Manchester United's Adnan Januzaj?
In charge of Manchester United for 295 days, David Moyes' tenure was largely tumultuous. Taking his post on July 1, 2013, the Scottish manager was subject to immense pressure (United being Premier League champions the season before his arrival), he failed to cope.
Protested by plane flyovers and engaging with the media in a less-than-confident fashion, the Moyes era finished on 22 April 2014; the Red Devils' then-seventh-place position deemed a sackable offence.
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Upon the announcement, an audible sigh of relief from the terraces of Old Trafford was heard, closing the book on an arduous chapter that lasted 10 months.
It seems history will be unkind to Moyes' tenure at Manchester United, but despite this, the Scot did have at least one bright spot in his brief stint: the burgeoning stardom of Adnan Januzaj.
Winning the 2012/13 Denzil Haroun Reserve Team Player of the Year award, United's academy—which has produced countless successful footballers—clearly saw the talent Januzaj possessed, and Moyes took advantage a season later.
Twenty-seven Premier League appearances (sixth in the United squad for 2013/14), two goals on his EPL debut vs. Sunderland and an international call-up with Belgium for the 2014 World Cup made the now-20-year-old look a certain star for the next decade-plus.
However, Moyes' departure and Louis van Gaal's subsequent arrival have scuttled the Belgian international's career.
An early loss in the League Cup, combined with an absence of European duties, has shortened the Red Devils' fixture list—44 matches this season as compared to 55 last year; 11 games disappearing from the schedule has made heavy rotation pointless, if not impossible.
Angel Di Maria's summer addition for £59.7 million, plus the resurgences of Juan Mata and Ashley Young, have likewise been contributing factors to Januzaj's mostly wasted 2014/15. Having three senior players above him—two highly regarded and the other in terrific form—has proved difficult to crack for the Belgian.
According to the Daily Mail's Sami Mokbel, Van Gaal has noticed this predicament, and he may look to transform the natural attacking midfielder (who mostly finds games in wide areas) into a striker. An interesting proposition considering United's striking situation over the past few months.
Danny Welbeck (24 years old) was sold to Arsenal and Javier Hernandez (26) was loaned to Real Madrid, while Radamel Falcao (29) was loaned in. Meanwhile, James Wilson (19) is still developing, Robin van Persie (31) has battled injury all season and Wayne Rooney (29) is ignorant game-to-game whether he will play striker, midfielder, defender or goalkeeper.
Why Van Gaal would add another variable to an already muddled equation this summer is mind-boggling. It must be stated, in all fairness, that Januzaj—with the proper education—could play centre-forward.
Tall, technical and comfortable around the box, the experiment might be warranted, but already finding success, and coming into maturity, United should leave Januzaj to master his natural position. The warning signs of Phil Jones (who has inexplicably taken corner-kicks this season) can be found scattered all across Manchester.
To this aim, another option exists.
Certainly an unthinkable notion last year, but finding Januzaj temporary housing may be in order.
ESPN FC's Richard Jolly suggests Everton are interested in loaning the 20-year-old.
Possibly losing Tottenham Hotspur's Aaron Lennon and/or Chelsea's Christian Atsu after loan spells this season, moving for the Belgian on a provisional basis makes sense for Roberto Martinez's side—it would also benefit United, as rotting on the bench is no place for Januzaj's talent.
Handed six starts in the EPL's under-21 league, the Belgian international has scored four goals and assisted four. Clearly above his peers, senior football—ideally in the Premier League—is what Januzaj requires.
New management has lifted United from seventh place in 2013/14 to battling for second place in 2014/15; a few players have blossomed (e.g. Marouane Fellaini, David De Gea), and optimism has largely returned.
This improvement, though, has come at a cost; different tactics meant altering personnel/formations, and Januzaj has simply been a casualty of Van Gaal's swirling whirlwind.
Manchester United cannot concern themselves too greatly with integrating youth stars before their foundation is rebuilt. Sir Alex Ferguson was able to play kids, but only in the context of a winning, stable side.
Januzaj's United future depends on how quickly Van Gaal can return normalcy (i.e., silverware) to Old Trafford; as he waits, playing at an Everton-standard club next season would seem an agreeable resolution.
*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase.com where not noted.
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