Cast your mind back three years, if you can.
The David Moyes reign had just begun at Old Trafford and he was about to give an exciting Belgian youngster his big break. On October 5, 2013, Adnan Januzaj announced himself to the Premier League with two goals on his debut in 2-1 win over Sunderland. The young playmaker had the world at his feet.
Flash forward to today, and Januzaj is now playing for the very team he got his breakthrough against, and you might have guessed that things aren’t quite going to plan.
When he joined the Black Cats on loan, many hoped that teaming up with his old coach, Moyes, could revive his fledging career. And he showed early signs of brilliance with a cracking goal in the EFL Cup. But things have gone slightly downhill since.
During his new club’s 1-0 defeat to Tottenham on Sunday, Januzaj was shown the first red card of his career late in the game after questioning a decision from referee Mike Dean.
And Twitter wasn’t exactly the most sympathetic…
Januzaj's chant is better than he is #safc
— liam (@lrmarrin) September 18, 2016
Januzaj sent off, impressively stupid! https://t.co/CaUgYdXliS
— FootballFanCast.com (@FootballFanCast) September 18, 2016
For Sunderland fans, it feels as if Januzaj has not lived up to the hype he brought with him to the Stadium of Light, and so they weren’t even sad to see him sent off, just angry. It’s a remarkable fall from grace for the man who inherited the number 11 shirt from Ryan Giggs at Old Trafford.
Januzaj's chant is better than he is #safc
— liam (@lrmarrin) September 18, 2016
How can anyone rate Januzaj? Head's that far up his own Arse he can't tell how shite he really is.
— Larsson ?? (@Lxrsson) September 18, 2016
Fact that Januzaj can't play the next game makes me happy mind, how sad.
— Matt (@Matt_Rennie13) September 18, 2016
I was actually pleased Januzaj got sent off means Moyes can't select the coward. He does a few flicks now and again but offers nothing #SAFC
— Paul Davison (@PDavy1) September 18, 2016
To steal something I heard about Sessegnon once… Adnan Januzaj – all fart and no shit! Piss poor & weak as water
— Gareth Stevens (@keepthefaith73) September 18, 2016
Some fans even showed more creativity than the little Belgian when discussing his performances for Sunderland.
We might as well get a giant sausage skin, fill it with semolina pudding, put it on wheels and send it out on the pitch instead of Januzaj.
— Andy Dawson (@profanityswan) September 18, 2016
And fans are already happy to write off the 21-year-old, although we’re not quite sure you can apply the label of “flop” to a player who has yet to command a transfer fee of any kind.
Januzaj = flop
— Michael Tutton (@mdrtutton) September 18, 2016
Remember when everyone said Januzaj was gonna be something special. Yeah, he isn't, in fact he little better than average, at best.
— Will (@Odins_Panzer) September 18, 2016
Remember when people were saying Januzaj is the next big thing lol ?
— Anna (@qpr_anna) September 18, 2016
United fans are starting to think they should have cashed in on the Januzaj hype when they had the chance.
Just remembered we rejected £40m for Januzaj from PSG lol
— alex? (@_alex1999_) September 18, 2016