Manchester United have seen several exciting young talents fail to keep themselves grounded during their careers.
Even this summer, Manchester United are looking to offload Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho after both attracted criticism from Ruben Amorim.
Amorim criticised Rashford’s effort in training, while Garnacho was told to “pray that you can find a club” this summer following his comments in the aftermath of the Europa League final.
Both academy graduates were tipped to be the future of United after their incredible breakthroughs, but their time as United players can now be considered over.
They are certainly not the first wonderkids to pass through United without fulfilling their potential.
Manchester United academy graduate Adnan Januzaj frustrated.
Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images
Adnan Januzaj claimed he would win the Ballon d’Or
Adnan Januzaj made an incredible breakthrough to United’s first team in 2013 under David Moyes, and he looked set to be the club’s next big thing.
The Belgian winger made 38 appearances in his first season as a senior United star, but his form quickly trailed off.
Januzaj admits his life peaked at United. Just two years into his senior career, he was loaned out to Borussia Dortmund and then Sunderland.
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During his time at Old Trafford, Adnan Januzaj shared a dressing room with Demetri Mitchell, who recently shared a story about his Belgian teammate on social media.
Via X, Mitchell wrote: “Adnan once said to the manager ‘Why do I need gym I’m going to win the Ballon d’Or'”
Januzaj clearly didn’t lack self-confidence, but his statement appears to be more on the side of arrogance in hindsight.
Where is ex-Man United wonderkid Adnan Januzaj now?
Januzaj was sold by Jose Mourinho in 2017 to Spanish side Real Sociedad, and five years later he made the move to Sevilla as a free agent.
However, Januzaj has only made 17 appearances for Sevilla and has spent the last two seasons trying to regain his form out on loan.
Januzaj joined Istanbul Basaksehir on loan in 2023 before enduring an underwhelming spell at Las Palmas in 2024/25.
Ultimately, Januzaj has been disappointing at Sevilla and now at 30 years old it seems unlikely that he’ll ever return to the top of European football.
READ MORE: Real Sociedad’s Januzaj says he regrets staying at Manchester United as long as he did
According to Koha, Januzaj is not part of Sevilla’s plans for next season so he has been given permission to leave. Januzaj could return to Anderlecht – a club where he spent six years in the academy before joining United.
From claiming he would win the Ballon d’Or at United, not many predicted this is how Januzaj’s career would pan out 12 years later.