COMMENT: Louis van Gaal is right! No, really Manchester United fans, when it comes to Adnan Januzaj he is absolutely spot on.
The Manchester United manager has stated he advised against the Belgian joining Borussia Dortmund in August, insisting the playing opportunities in Germany would be as limited as he'd find at Old Trafford. And he's been proved correct.
It's been a disaster. A terrible choice. And it's not like he wasn't warned. Van Gaal may've done it behind closed doors, but Marc Wilmots, the Belgium coach, was open about his concerns when learning of Januzaj's decision.
"In Manchester, it's hard to be in the starting team. Sure. But the difference between the Bundesliga and the Premier League is minimal. At the moment, Dortmund is competing at a very high level," said Wilmots.
"It's always a good thing if one plays, but it is true in his position, there is a lot of competition (at BVB). We will see how the situation evolves."
And that's the problem, Januzaj, stuck on the bench, sometimes out of the matchday squad altogether, hasn't been 'evolving'. Even when he gets a chance, as he did with a full 90 against Europa League opponents PAOK last week, it's just not been falling for him.
"I'm really not in shape," Januzaj said after the game. "I just need a lot more playing minutes to find my best level again."
Something which he just isn't going to receive if he doesn't cut short his time at Dortmund next month.
Michael Zorc, BVB's GM, insists there's no plans to send Januzaj back to United in January. Of course he would! It's in BVB's best interests to have a player of Januzaj's quality on standby in the event of an injury crisis. But for the player, at this stage in his development, spending a season on the bench is anything but ideal.
"Januzaj has to compete with Marco Reus, Shinji Kagawa, Henrikh Mykhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. This is no laughing matter," argues Zorc.
"The team plays exceptionally well and they play exceptionally well - unfortunately for Januzaj.
"But at this time there is absolutely no reason to change."
So, in a nutshell, Januzaj has swapped one situation for limited football for another. Indeed, you could argue he'd have enjoyed more playing time this season at United.
Thomas Tuchel, the BVB coach, rates the Belgian winger. And his new teammates have welcomed him warmly.
In terms of attitude, there's been no complaints from the Dortmund camp. A training ground blast of "you're sleeping!" from Tuchel was plastered across the Belgian backpages earlier this season, but coming after a humbling by Bayern Munich, the coach's rap, a source tells Tribalfootball.com, wasn't just aimed at Januzaj, but also Adrian Ramos. It was simply a one-off moment. Overall, BVB management are delighted with Januzaj's attitude around the club.
"The coach of Dortmund is crazy about Adnan," insists his agent, Dirk Devriese. "The club has assured him that he will be physically ready after the New Year."
But the reality is Tuchel will not select him ahead of established players like Reus and Aubameyang.
"At first he produced some good performances on the wing. He needs to know how we play," says Tuchel.
"He's also made friends quickly on the team. Everyone gives him the support he needs so that he gives the best of himself. He is a player who has confidence with the ball, who likes duels, who has a good awareness of what is around him and is effective in front of goal. He is on track."
Van Gaal, however, disagrees - and it's difficult to question the United manager's opinion on the issue.
"It's just the same as at Manchester United. He has to deal with tough competition and I'd like to see him play and that's why I wanted to see him play in the Premier League," lamented the Dutchman.
"But he chose Dortmund."
The Euros are gone. His battle to win over Tuchel and a blow-up with Enzo Scifo, the Belgium U21 coach, has put paid to that.
"The European championship is a great event, but Adnan sees himself in the even longer term," argues Devriese.
But that's just papering over the ramifications of this choice. At a Crystal Palace or Southampton, playing week-in, week-out, there's no question Januzaj would be part of Wilmots' plans.
France may be off the agenda, but this campaign can still be rescued - if Januzaj accepts defeat in Dortmund and tries his luck elsewhere in the Premier League.
There'll be no shortage of takers. It was still this year that David Moyes, who gave Januzaj his chance at United, was happily drawing comparisons with Johan Cruyff.
"He's a wonderfully gifted player with great balance and the ability to go past people. When I see his poise on the ball, he has characteristics of Johan Cruyff," so said the Scot.
And Januzaj can meet those expectations. But not by kicking his heels for another six months at Dortmund.
