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Just a few days ago, it emerged that Adnan Januzaj was given an opportunity to represent Kosovo in a landmark friendly against Haiti next month. But, sources close to the 18-year old have told The Telegraph that he will not accepting the invitation, thus keeping alive his prospects of representing England in the future.
The Manchester United winger, who has thus far emerged as one of the few bright sparks in an otherwise dismal season for the club, is eligible to play for Kosovo, Serbia, Albania, Belgium and England through a combination of family, birth and residential issues.
It looks as though all the efforts taken by the Kosovo Football Federation to recruit the teenager are in vain. Although Kosovo are not an FIFA-affiliated team, they have a FIFA-sanctioned youth teams, which means that they can play friendlies and exhibition matches. Kosovo were looking to make use of that and make the talented teenager play in the country’s first full international game since becoming an independent state in 2008.
Although Januzaj was born and raised in Brussels, Januzaj’s father Abedin is Albanian, by virtue of which is capable of playing for both Albania and Belgium. It is understood that Abedin wants his son to become the global image of his troubled homeland.
However, instead of representing Kosovo, the family feel that by playing for England, for which he becomes eligible for selection by the Football Association in 2017, he will serve as an ambassador for the troubled nation which has only existed for all of 6 years.
Adnan’s father Abedin spoke earlier in the season about the “difficulties” of Adnan representing Kosovo. “I was born in Kosovo, but the situation there is complicated as our Kosovo federation (FFK) is not yet recognized by FIFA.” Abedin said. “It is something we will consider in the future.”
“I obviously don’t exclude the possibility of seeing my son in a Kosovo national team jersey in the future, but we have time to think for that as it is delicate. I know Roy Hodgson said he would consider having Adnan in the English squad in the future.
“But, as I said for Albania and Belgium, it is not something we are considering right now. Our full potential will be focused in doing well with Manchester United.”
With Albania having already failed in their effort to select Januzaj and Belgium coach Marc Wilmots critical of the player’s father’s response to Belgian attempts, the door is now wide open for England to snap up this talented teenager.
