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Before Adnan Januzaj fired past Kieran Westwood and executed a left-footed volley Zinedine Zidane would approve of, the teenage Manchester United forward had the dilemma many teenagers without a driving licence encounter. Januzaj was dating a Mancunian girl while he lived in his digs but was not prepared to rely on Manchester's public transport, so he enlisted his own driver to navigate him to the girl's house and collect her for date nights.

It is an image that evokes the memory of Dan Aykroyd's Louis Winthorpe III in Trading Places being chaperoned by Denholm Elliott's disapproving butler. Januzaj would have made, at the very most, four senior appearances by that stage in his United career and had not started a competitive fixture as he showcased the privileges of his profession to the locals.

Januzaj was described as a 'nice enough kid' but 'spoilt'. 'Spoilt' was also used to summarise his behaviour at United last season and during pre-season. One source claimed Januzaj showed 'no desire to work' after he was omitted from the senior set-up. Louis van Gaal's management of Januzaj was questionable at times but there was no inclination to restore the winger to the senior squad, as his attitude showed no signs of improving even after Borussia Dortmund sent him back early.

It was behaviour reminiscent of Tom Cleverley's infamous TC23 experiment in 2011. Cleverley had played seven times for United and was quickly feted as Paul Scholes's heir by idealists, backed by Sir Alex Ferguson's sudden over-reliance on him following a breakneck start to the 2011-12 campaign. Cleverley was rushed back against Everton in October, just six days after the smarting 6-1 defeat to City, and the slender victory came at a cost. Cleverley aggravated his injury and spent the next four months in the stands.

Within weeks, he established his own clothing range and was almost instantly nicknamed 'The Brand' by RedIssue. Cleverley's hero is David Beckham and he began mimicking him seven games into his United career, having earned a four-year contract after just five.

Cleverley, but especially Januzaj, explain United's reluctance to indulge a 19-year-old Paul Pogba. Januzaj also earned a new deal five games into his career, got cockier and seemingly more complacent. A worthy inheritor of Ryan Giggs's No.11 shirt two years ago, Januzaj has done little to justify the recognition.

Pogba's and Januzaj's approaches differ drastically. Pogba was, as he opined upon his departure, 'disrespected'. Rafael da Silva in midfield, Scholes's return from a six-month retirement, and a proposed wage that was lower than those offered to Wilfried Zaha the following year and Tyler Blackett in 2015 understandably affronted the Frenchman and his agent Mino Raiola. Pogba was motivated by game-time and Ferguson inexplicably gifted more starts to Zeki Fryers and Scott Wootton.

Januzaj was in a stronger bargaining position than Pogba 18 months later since United supporters became quickly vexed by the prospect of him departing for a six-figure compensation fee like the Frenchman did. Januzaj was awarded that new contract, with a reportedly large signing on fee, and his weekly wage is now estimated to be between £40,000 and £60,000. It is no surprise his casual style has caused him to become a casualty.

Jose Mourinho has handled Januzaj's Sunderland departure diplomatically. He is, understandably, reluctant to dismiss a talented winger when United have another erratic wide man in Memphis, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Jesse Lingard are not conventional wingers, while Anthony Martial was bought as a striker.

However, it was apparent at Wigan last month Januzaj would not be in his new manager's plans this term. While the other half-time substitutes worked rigorously during a fitness exercise to impress Mourinho, Januzaj ambled about the pitch as if he was appearing in a charity match. Mourinho instructed him and Ashley Young to switch flanks, it seemed, with the sole intention of having Januzaj within earshot. His words failed to galvanise the 21-year-old, who continued to play with such nonchalance the substitute probably deserved to be substituted.

Januzaj will have just a year remaining on his contract come next summer and even if he does impress at the Stadium of Light it could merely seal a permanent deal. Cleverley impressed at relegation fodder Wigan six seasons ago, yet he had creditably worked his way up from League One with Leicester to the Championship at Watford during previous loan spells and had not made his senior United debut. Januzaj has made 63 first-team appearances.

At least he might be entitled to a club car.