What was actually a clip of a professional footballer being really sound and taking time out to have a bit of fun with a ball-boy, could also be taken as a heartbreaking moment of loneliness for Manchester United fans.
The clip in question popped up as Borussia Dortmund faced FC Krasnodar in the Europa League on Thursday night. Adnan Januzaj was passing the ball back and forth with a kid near the sideline, when the camera panned to the other Dortmund subs knocking the ball around and having a laugh, before panning back to Januzaj looking glum.
Of course it isn't something to read too much into, but it's clear that Januzaj's loan to Borussia Dortmund was not the best idea.
With James Wilson also being loaned out to Brighton & Hove Albion this week, you would have to imagine that the young Belgian would be involved with the first team had he stayed, with United so light in terms of attackers.
Louis Van Gaal has this week revealed to Sky Sports that he felt Januzaj going to Dortmund was a big risk, due to the level of talent already at the club, but in the end it was the player's decision:
I said in advance that's a big risk, because you have to compete with other players of a higher level and that's not so easy. It's the same as at Manchester United. He has to compete with higher-level players. I want him to play all the matches, and that's why I wanted to play him in the Premier League, but he chose Borussia Dortmund.
We have to wait and see [if it's a good move] because now he doesn't play. I am certain he has the talent to play, but he has to learn a lot of things. Talent is important, but so is the character to develop your talent. And he can learn that.
It hasn't been all bad for Januzaj in Germany. He has provided assists and looked sharp in spells, but he isn't starting, and he was never going to, so when you see clips like the above with the player choosing to have a knock-around with a ballboy instead of with his teammates, it paints a picture of a figure who is regretting his decision.
Of course, he could just be trying to repair the damaged reputation that ballboys have of Belgian players after the actions of a certain Chelsea star.
via r/reddevils.
