Ralf Rangnick blocked Anthony Elanga from going out on loan after watching clips of the Manchester United youngster on YouTube.
After just 17 minutes of action under former boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Elanga was set to go out on loan this month, to gain some vital game-time and continue his development.
But all that changed in late November, with Solskjaer's dismissal and the appointment of Rangnick as United interim boss until the end of the season.