Not so long ago Adnan Januzaj was being spoken of as the second coming of Ryan Giggs at Old Trafford.
He’ll be spending the next nine months at Sunderland.
What went wrong for the player who burst on to the scene in 2013, bamboozling defenders and scoring phenomenal winners?
Januzaj was something of a Marcus Rashford figure three years ago, going from relatively unknown to challenging for a first team spot in quick smart time.
But then it all fell asunder.
Januzaj made just seven appearances for the Red Devils last season, even after being recalled from his Borussia Dortmund loan in January, compared to his 21 appearances in the 2014/15 campaign and the incredible 35 in his debut season.
And he was offloaded to the Black Cats in the hope that the change of scenery might reignite his career.
United’s academy head Nicky Butt has attempted to explain what happened to Januzaj when asked about the fact that so many academy-produced players – Paddy McNair, Donald Love, Tyler Blackett, Will Keane and James Weir – all recently left Old Trafford.
“They’re really good lads and will have a good life, nice houses but they weren’t at the level for United,” Butt said in an interview with the Times.
“It doesn’t hurt me as much as, say, if Adnan Januzaj went and never came back. He’s got the level to play for United and win leagues and Champions Leagues. Maybe he’s not been as dedicated, a case of too much too soon, a millionaire now.”
Januzaj’s move, unlike that of the above five names, is a temporary one and he should be back among the United ranks next summer.
But Butt thinks it’s a recipe for disaster for players to be showered with fame and fortune at such a young age and has explained what he’d do to combat the modern phenomenon.
“I’d definitely bring in trust funds,” Butt continued. “When we first signed our contracts at 17, I remember [chairman] Martin Edwards and the manager [Alex Ferguson] said: ‘You’re having a grand a week, and the rest will be put away.’ The rest was put with an accountant who still works for all of us now. It was the best thing that ever happened.
“Some kids now come up and expect things too soon — and get given it too soon. It’s the fear factor of losing him to another club and end up losing a £50 million player. For the sake of an extra £4,000 a week.”
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