Adnan Januzaj was tipped for big things at Manchester United.
Breaking into the first team under David Moyes in 2013, the young Belgian proved to be a rare bright point in an otherwise disastrous season.
With Moyes dismissed in April of 2014, Januzaj found his opportunities limited at Old Trafford under his successor, Louis van Gaal. A loan move to Borussia Dortmund proved unsuccessful, and by the time Jose Mourinho had arrived last summer, Januzaj found himself well down the pecking order at United.
Another loan move, this time for a full season at Sunderland, failed to convince Mourinho that Januzaj was worthy of a place in his first team squad. As a result, a transfer to Real Sociedad was agreed.
Having already made it perfectly clear that he felt his progress stopped under Van Gaal, Januzaj has now reminded everyone of his feelings towards the Dutchman while speaking to AS.
“If I score a goal I will dedicate it to Van Gaal,” he said. “I don’t want to talk about him but everyone knows how many problems I had with him. We didn’t have the best of rapports.
“It wasn’t easy, it’s very frustrating and difficult when you are in a situation like that. I didn’t have many possibilities to play. I spent a long time on the bench and that makes you lose confidence and minor injuries emerge.
“Many times I wouldn’t play as a starter and you struggle to shine without continuity. The coach would put me in positions that I didn’t know how to play in and I had little experience in. I hope that one day, I can shut up all those people that criticised me.”
Although it was ultimately Mourinho’s decision to let the player leave United, Januzaj also adds that he harbours no ill feeling towards his old club’s current manager.
“I have nothing bad to say about Mourinho,” Januzaj added. “I have no criticism of him as a coach. From the beginning he was fair.”
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