The Wonder Kid

Adnan Januzaj has become the most talked about players in the world football after taking Manchester united to their victory against Sunderland. The Belgian showed on Saturday why everybody wants him. Januzaj has been regarded as a special talent by United for some time, making the bench for Sir Alex Ferguson's final game in charge of the club last season and was named as their reserve team player of the year. In Manchester United’s starting lineup for the first time, he did what no other player neither Wayne Rooney, nor Robin van Persie could manage to do at Sunderland. With United a goal down, Januzaj scored an equalizer and then scored for the second time with a magnificent volleyed goal to win the game, 2-1. The debut that many players dream of and which will live with him throughout his life. With this there was no doubt why Croatia manager showed tremendous interest in the youngster after which Croatia joined Belgium, Albania, Turkey, Serbia and even Kosovo as nations for which Januzaj is eligible to play international football but his father emphasized that he should first be a regular choice in playing eleven and then select that his loyalty lies with which country. The footballing world is now very much aware of Januzaj's potential, as confirmed by Croatia's interest. And England is already planning that if no other nation has crowned Januzaj by the time he completes five years’ residency in Britain in February 2018, he could become a full international player for the country that is looking for its first World Cup since 1966. All these expectations are not based on one performance, the evidence of his talent has grown ever since he was raw in the academy of Anderlecht, the Belgian club that United plucked him from when he was first eligible to sign at age 16. David Moyes, the new manager, was responsible for giving Wayne Rooney his first-team debut at Everton when Rooney was just 16, and Moyes also groomed Ross Barkley, the teenager who now is shining for Everton and is on the verge of joining the England side. In the words of Ferguson, Januzaj is “still growing into his body”, yet he clearly has command on his movement, and a very distinct awareness of how to use the talent he was born with. Right now with Moyes interested in change in team management there is uncertainty about his future but Manchester United will try to secure him beyond the remaining year on his contract, but others, including Bayern Munich, Barcelona, Juventus and Manchester City, might make him a better offer. One possible reason that United will succeed in his signing is that Januzaj adores Ryan Giggs and Patrice Evra and enjoys playing along with his idols. Januzaj is one of the 13 Belgians playing in the Premier League and can also play in the Brazil World Cup 2014 if he wishes to.

Siddhant Kapoor
IMI-B