• Football

Turkey join chase to call up United's Januzaj

ESPN staff
March 27, 2014
Adnan Januzaj recently rejected a call-up from Kosovo © PA Photos
Enlarge

Turkey manager Fatih Terim is trying to persuade Manchester United's Adnan Januzaj to play for his side.

Januzaj has Turkish heritage but is eligible to play for five different international teams and could qualify for a sixth, England.

Former AC Milan and Galatasaray manager Terim hopes the 19-year-old, who rejected a call-up from Kosovo last month, will plump for them.

"If we don't offer Januzaj the chance, we will be criticised for missing out," Terim told NTV Spor. "The Turkish Football Federation president, staff and myself have asked him to play for Turkey.

"His father is Turkish, his mother is Kosovan and Albania, England, Kosovo and Belgium all want him to represent their country."

Januzaj, who was born in Brussels, could become available for England through residency in the United Kingdom while another option for him is to play for Serbia.

But Terim added: "We are working towards the possibility of him playing for Turkey. I mean if he decided he wants to play for us, we have the right to play him."

Kosovo, not currently recognised by the United Nations as a country, has been granted permission by FIFA to play internationals and Albert Bunjaki's team played their first ever game against Haiti on March 5.

They are yet to play a competitive game and will not participate in Euro 2016 qualifying.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
ESPN staff Close