Why Adnan Januzaj looks close to the United exit door

As the chant goes, ‘I wanna tell you, I might as well do, about a boy who can do anything.’ Few could have anticipated that would include going from a rising star, with the world seemingly his oyster, to a lost boy at a crossroads for Adnan Januzaj.

He burst onto the scene, his fearless, enterprising, direct play one of the few plus points of a grim spell in charge by need I say who. He was rewarded with a bumper, long-term contract. That is where it all started to go pear-shaped.

His CV now consists of loan spells at Dortmund and Sunderland terminated early and relegated respectively. His career has nosedived at an alarming rate to a nadir, with his future at Old Trafford looking decidedly bleak.

He could not salvage his career last season under a manager who first gave him his head in the big time. Many thought a season of toughing it out amidst a relegation scrap would be the making of him. The only thing that can be sure is it not did do him any favours. Whereas Andreas Pereira developed his game in similarly trying circumstances in Spain, Januzaj was goalless in 25 games.

Their paths appear to be going in opposite directions, with Pereira likely to be vying for more opportunities next season. Januzaj has been heavily linked with Real Sociedad recently, with the hope being that he will revive his flagging career overseas, it appears on a permanent basis.

United will be reticent to sever all ties with Januzaj, the club well aware of his undoubted talent. The option of a buyout clause for any permanent move must be a distinct possibility, especially as Januzaj has time on his side.

He has fallen a long way from the heights he set in 2013-14. Perhaps it is best for both parties that Januzaj goes to pastures new.

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