Adnan Januzaj was always going to be a top top player. Even before he was signed up by Manchester United at the tender age of 16, the youngster had been doing wonders at Belgian club Anderlecht and had the likes of Juventus and Barcelona running for his signature.
However, it was his dad who made the decision for young Adnan to join Manchester United under Alex Ferguson. Januzaj senior has been a great influence in his son’s life and it was him who decided that Manchester United was the right club for his son when Adnan penned down a new five year deal with the club in October this year.
Abedin, his father, also has the added responsibility of choosing the country that Januzaj will represent at international level. He is eligible to represent a total of 4 countries – Belgium, Turkey, Albania, and Serbia. However, Januzaj has hinted that if Kosovo manage to get FIFA affiliation, he will represent them at senior level.
Up until the 2011-12 season, Januzaj had been causing heads to turn when he was rising through the youth department at Old Trafford. Few United supporters who had turned up to watch the under-21 Premier League that started last season saw what this boy from Albania can do to opponents. Januzaj was named United’s “Reserve Player of the Year” last season before making it to the bench as number 44 in what was Sir Alex Ferguson’s last match in charge of the 20 times champions of England.
Incidentally, Januzaj still has the same number on his back this season and I would not be surprised if he goes on to inherit Ryan Giggs’ number 11 jersey post the Welshman’s retirement which should be at the end of the current campaign.
With the most decorated player in Premier League history as a first team coach to guide this prodigious talent, we can expect some awesome stuff from Januzaj in future.
Continued in Part II