Adnan Januzaj hits out at van Gaal and Mourinho over United treatment

Adnan Januzaj has taken aim at former managers Jose Mourinho and Louis van Gaal over his lack of chances at Manchester United.

The Belgian made a blockbuster start to his United career, being introduced to the first team in the 13/14 season by David Moyes.

Januzaj was a rare high point in Moyes’ time in charge, though never kicked on following the managers’ departure.

Loan spells to Borussia Dortmund and Sunderland followed, before the 26-year-old sealed a permanent move to his current club Real Sociedad in 2017.

Back in 2019, United’s head of first-team development, Nicky Butt, said that Januzaj not nailing down a spot was his biggest disappointment.

At the time Butt said: “I don’t think I’ve seen a player, probably since Ryan [Giggs], who was as good as that.

“He was unbelievable. In my eyes, he should have gone on to be a world superstar.”

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The Sociedad man was asked about those comments in an interview with ESPN, to which he responded: “What he [Butt] said, it’s true. But the only problem is that I didn’t have the right coach to get me on my level and to push me.

“When Van Gaal came, I was playing one game out of six, so it was difficult, and I was like, ‘What am I doing here?’

“At United, I didn’t have that many chances, especially when Van Gaal and Mourinho came. When they came there it was more difficult for me because I was a young player.

“I was 18 or 19 and I just had to accept things. Before that, I had people who believed in me like Ferguson.

“If he had stayed there longer, I think I would have played longer for Manchester United.”

Januzaj could line up against his former club when they meet in the Europea League round-of-32 on Thursday evening.

That game, along with a packed Champions League schedule, will be available to watch using the BT Sport monthly pass.

Featured image credit: Getty

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