Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho insists that Adnan Januzaj still has a future with the club despite being loaned out to Sunderland for the 2016-17 season.
The 21-year-old was handed his chance to break into the Red Devils first team by David Moyes in 2013 but has struggled to tie down a regular spot.
The Belgium international was frozen out by Moyes’ successor, Louis van Gaal, and was shipped out on a season-long loan deal to Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2015.
However, Januzaj struggled to impose himself in Germany and was recalled by United after featuring in just 12 games and making three starts.
Januzaj has long been linked with a move away from Old Trafford on a permanent deal but Mourinho insists he remains part of his future plans.
The Portuguese is an admirer of the versatile midfielder but admitted he is unlikely to get too many opportunities this term.
Sunderland, now under Moyes, have offered him the promise of gametime to kick start his career and Mourinho believes that is his best option to continue developing.
Mourinho said: “Adnan fits into my plans, which is why he’s on loan at a Premier League club.
We care about him and think he’s a talented player. “I want to give him all the conditions to develop. Hopefully everything will go well for him because we want him back.
“However, to be in the same squad as [Anthony] Martial, [Henrikh] Mkhitaryan, Juan Mata, Ashley Young and Memphis Depay, it would have meant not many matches.
“We cannot be selfish and have to think about the players and, in this case, Adnan.
I want to give him all the conditions to develop, to play and to play well. “We will see him every week in this country and we can compare performances.
“He is in the right place with a manager that likes him a lot. So hopefully everything will go well for him and that’s what we want because we want him back!”
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