Louis van Gaal refutes reports regarding Manchester United midfielder Adnan Januzaj's departure on loan in January

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal has made it clear that youngster Adnan Januzaj will not be allowed to leave the Old Trafford club on loan during the January transfer window.

The Belgian international impressed under former manager David Moyes last season, and was touted to be the next star of United. But the youngster has struggled for regular game under new manager Louis van Gaal.

Januzaj has started just four times under the new boss as compared to 27 appearances last season. It was believed that the young winger will be allowed to leave the club in the search of regular football on a temporary basis next month.

Earlier, there were reports suggesting that the United youth team graduate will re-unite with Moyes, who is currently manager of La Liga side Real Sociedad. Serie A giants Inter Milan were also said to be keen along with various Premier League clubs.

However, the Dutch manager has made it clear that the young winger is going nowhere. He is set to remain at Old Trafford for the remainder of the season and fight for his place in the team.

"No. He is a player of United," van Gaal is quoted as saying by Goal.

Meanwhile, Juan Mata has praised teammate Wayne Rooney following United's comfortable Boxing Day victory over Newcastle United.

Rooney, who has been moved into midfield by van Gaal, is thriving in his new position and was the star of the show against the Magpies scoring two goals and assisting a third for Robin van Persie.

The Spanish midfielder thinks that the position is perfectly suited for his skipper and deemed it a "privilege" to play alongside the Three Lions midfielder.

"I think he can play there, yes. He can defend, he can attack, he can pass and he can score goals arriving into the box. For us, he is a very important player and I feel privileged to play with such a player as Wazza," Mata told United's official site.