‘Who inherited Ryan Giggs’ number 11 jersey at Manchester United?’ could be a quiz question in years to come.
And it could easily lead to blank faces and some head scratching because the player in question didn’t make much of a mark in the shirt, and looks set to be on his way on his way out of Old Trafford.
Adjan Januzaj inherited Giggs’ famous jersey when the Welsh winger retired in 2014, after 23 years in the United first-team. Januzaj could never replace Giggs, but he showed flashes of real quality and promise during his debut season.
In fact, his emergence was the only remotely positive occurrence of David Moyes’ reign of terror as manager. However, it now appears that every other United player was just crap that season, rather than Januzaj being particularly great, because it really hasn’t worked out for him since then.
Januzaj fell out of favour under Louis van Gaal and then had an unsuccessful loan spell with Borussia Dortmund. The 22-year-old Belgium international spent last season on loan at Sunderland, in an attempt to rebuild his Premier League career.
And, well, we all know how that turned out…
Januzaj’s chances of playing for Jose Mourinho appear non-existent, and it looks very likely that he will leave Old Trafford this summer.
According to Manchester Evening News, Real Sociedad are interested in singing the winger.
“It’s true that we are interested [in Januzaj], but we are not in talks with Manchester or with him,” Sociedad’s president, Jokin Aperribay, said.
“We are waiting for the decision of Manchester United and then we will act. There are more teams interested in him and his signing won’t be easy.”
While, according to reports in Belgium, Roma, Monaco, Marseille, Lyon, Inter Milan and AC Milan are all interested in Januzaj, who will have to choose his next move wisely after three disappointing seasons.
Januzaj will reportedly have a buy-back clause in his transfer, should he leave, and could cost between £8m and £13m.
