Why Adnan Januzaj Is Forgotten Manchester United Player Who Will Explode in 2015
Adnan Januzaj is not quite “forgotten,” but he was something of a forgotten man in Louis van Gaal's first season in charge of Manchester United.
Under the right set of circumstances, he could certainly be a player whose career bursts back into life in the season ahead.
It has previously been argued on B/R that he would be best served by spending 2015/16 on loan at a good level. If he could be the creative fulcrum at the right kind of loan club, Januzaj could start to put up the kind of numbers he showed signs of being able to deliver during his promising first season.
There is also a chance he could do it at United.
That chance could well depend on what happens to Angel Di Maria. If the Argentinian is still in situ and determined to prove himself at Old Trafford, then Januzaj's route to the top is more tricky. Regardless of his patchy form, Di Maria at anything like his best would occupy a spot in the starting XI that could otherwise be Januzaj's.
However, Di Maria's future at United remains uncertain. French newspaper Le Parisien (h/t Manchester Evening News) reported on Thursday that he has "agreed a deal in principle" to join Paris Saint-Germain.
In the midst of transfer-rumour season, knowing which reports to set stock in and which to ignore is a challenge. Perhaps there is nothing in this one and the player's recent assertion to Argentinian newspaper Ole (h/t the Guardian) that he wants to stay at United will prove more telling.
If he does leave, though, it would certainly offer an opportunity for Januzaj.
Given how little football the Belgium international played for United last season, it is tempting to assume Van Gaal does not rate him highly. However, it may not be that simple.
Ander Herrera, for example, seemed out of favour with the Dutchman for the first half of last season. In the second half, he became a great example of a forgotten United player who exploded into form.
Van Gaal appears to have quite an open mind when it comes to players, judging them on form and staying loyal to them when they hit it. Marouane Fellaini, for example, seemed all set for an exit in last summer's transfer window. An injury reportedly scuppered a transfer to Napoli, per Ian Herbert in the Independent in August 2014.
When he recovered from that injury and made it back on to the pitch for United, he made a positive contribution and forced his way into Van Gaal's plans.
If he feels somewhat isolated from the side, Januzaj should take hope from these examples. He should also take solace from the fact that when Van Gaal finally tired of Di Maria's evident slump in form, it was the youngster to whom he first turned.
It might be the case that Januzaj was absent from the well-balanced 4-3-3 that saw United produce their best football last season. Before that brief run, though, Januzaj replaced Di Maria in two successive games and impressed on both occasions.
His lively cameo against Sunderland could have earned him a start against Newcastle United if Van Gaal had not had to balance the politics of the Di Maria situation. It was a rough stretch from then on out for Januzaj, but all hope is not yet lost.
The potential that made him a bright light during the dark days of David Moyes remains. If he is given a role at United, or on loan, that allows him to harness it, 2015/16 could be remembered as the season in which Adnan Januzaj exploded back into form.
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