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“It's a big mystery. It is odd when you spend so much money on a player and then don't use them,” Martin Keown, an English former professional footballer and today a pundit for the BBC, wrote about the situation around Henrikh Mkhitaryan in Manchester United.

As the Daily Mail writes, Keown’s comments came in response to one of the readers’ request to share his views on Mkhitaryan’s case.

“Jose Mourinho could have a plan for Mkhitaryan - he could be keeping him back to work on his power and fitness and give him more awareness of what lies ahead.

He may also feel that the player is not quite ready and might not trust him yet. Don't forget the manager has been under pressure in recent weeks,” Keown explained, adding: “The problem is that when you bring in a player of that calibre, you are failing that player if you don't play them. By signing them, you show that commitment that you want the player there and that they are part of a project”.

The British expert next recalled other big players that had been brought in and struggled, pointing out to Angel di Maria, who was ‘the most expensive mistake.” “He had tried and tested ability but United couldn't get the best out of him,” Keown concluded.