Albania and England are just two of the nations along with Belgium vying to make Adnan Januzaj their international. Victor Fraile / Getty Images
Albania and England are just two of the nations along with Belgium vying to make Adnan Januzaj their international. Victor Fraile / Getty Images

Belgium manager looking to recruit Januzaj



Belgium manager Marc Wilmots intends to meet with Adnan Januzaj after the Manchester United teenager turned down a call-up to the national team.

The 18-year-old, whose family left Kosovo for Belgium before he was born, is eligible to represent a number of different countries on the international stage.

Wilmots had hoped Januzaj would be part of his squad for the World Cup qualifiers against Croatia and Wales, but was told the player had not yet made a decision about his international future.

Reports suggest he may be waiting to see if Kosovo will receive official recognition from FIFA.

Quoted by the Daily Mail, Wilmots said: “This was the first time I have tried to include him in a squad, because I wanted to send him a clear message.

“Unfortunately, I had a very quick response from England, when Manchester United called me to say the player felt he was not ready to make a choice about his international future.

“I respect his stance. Every player has the right to make his own choice, and I will not attempt to make any sort of ultimatum to him. But I do intend meeting Adnan and his entourage to find out for myself exactly what their thoughts are. You cannot force a player to choose a country. It has to come from his heart.

“Clearly, when you have a player of his technique and ability, the door to the national team always stays open.”

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