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Louis Van Gaal has revealed that he didn't want Adnan Januzaj to choose the Borussia Dortmund loan option.

The United manager has suggested that the 20-year-old Belgian has jumped out of the Old Trafford frying pan and into the Westfalenstadion fire after electing to spend the season in Germany.

The midfielder has struggled to get game time in Dortmund just as he had done in Van Gaal's debut United campaign last season.

Januzaj made four starts for United at the beginning of this season against Aston Villa, Club Brugge (twice) and Newcastle but on transfer deadline day he moved to the Bundesliga on loan.

But the switch has backfired.

Thomas Tuchel's Borussia side have only lost one match in 22 this term and have stormed back into form leaving Januzaj struggling to make a breakthrough.

The German's engine room has been dominated by the form of the likes of Marcos Reus, ex-Red Shinji Kagawa, Ilkay Gundogan, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Henrikh Mkhitaryan leaving United's youngster largely out in the cold.

But Van Gaal says he'd warned Januzaj of the danger of finding the competition the same as at United.

“In a club like Borussia Dortmund all the players there are also of a certain level and I said in advance that's a big risk for you because you have to compete with other players of a higher level and that is not so easy,” says the Reds boss.

“It's the same thing as in Manchester United. He has to compete with higher level players. I want him to play all the matches and that is why I want to play him also in the Premier League but he chose for Borussia Dortmund.”

So has it been a bad move for Januzaj's progress then?

“We have to wait and see because now he doesn't play but he has the talent to play,” added Louis.

“I am certain he has the talent to play but he has to learn a lot of things. Not only is talent important but also it is the character to develop your talent. And he can learn that.”

Van Gaal has no plans to recall Januzaj from Germany adding that ending a temporary transfer early is not the normal pattern in Germany.

If the two club's were in agreement, however, it is understood the loan transfer could be scrapped, but

Dortmund's sporting director Michael Zorc said recently that that wasn't on the agenda.

Januzaj was an instant hit at Old Trafford when former boss David Moyes gave him his starting debut against Sunderland in October 2013 scoring twice at the Stadium of Light.

It propelled the Academy product to stardom but under Van Gaal he has been brought back to earth.