Boss Explains Adnan Loan

Louis van Gaal has explained the reason behind his decision to send Adnan Januzaj on loan to Borussia Dortmund and suggested James Wilson will also leave on a temporary deal.

Januzaj made an encouraging start to the season by scoring the winner at Aston Villa during his first competitive start, though the Belgium international has since agreed to join Dortmund for the rest of the campaign with eyes on more first-team opportunities in the Bundesliga.

Wilson is still working hard at the Aon Training Complex but the 19-year-old striker has been widely tipped to enjoy his own loan spell, with several English clubs reportedly in the mix for his services.

During his weekly press conference on Friday, ahead of the Liverpool match, van Gaal spoke about each youngster and emphasised why both still have major roles to play at United. The hope, as he explained, is that their separate loan experiences will allow them to flourish and develop as players.

“I have said to Januzaj that I will give him opportunities in the position of nine and maybe of 10,” van Gaal told reporters. “I have done that and then decided that, no, it would be better for him to go to another environment, maybe he will play more with them than me and we can see if he develops himself.

“It is the same thing that I have said to James Wilson. I have said the same thing, only James has to go to a Championship club, so then I can call him back if my striker is injured. Then we need him and then he would have more playing time.

“But for Wilson, another year in the same way as last year is not good for his development. It is not good for Januzaj either. This is why we let players go on loan and we don't sell, because we believe in the quality of Januzaj and in the quality of Wilson.”