Januzaj opts for Belgium

Manchester United winger Adnan Januzaj has chosen to play international football for Belgium, according to coach Marc Wilmots.

The 19-year-old’s breakthrough into the Old Trafford first team at the start of this season started the debate over which country he would go on to represent.

Born in Brussels, Januzaj is also able to play for Albania, Kosovo, Serbia and Turkey, while he was strongly linked with selection for England.

Januzaj would not have been eligible for England until 2018 — five years after his 18th birthday — but the point is now seemingly moot.

Wilmots told Twitter: “I received official confirmation that Adnan Januzaj will play for the Belgian national team for the rest of his career.” There was no official comment from the Belgian Football Association or Januzaj himself but if true it puts him in with a chance of going to this summer’s World Cup.

Wilmots is expected to announce his initial squad on May 13 but it now seems a matter of when, not if, Januzaj plays for Belgium.

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere caused controversy last year when he claimed the idea of seeing the likes of Januzaj play for England made him uncomfortable.

Wilshere said last October: “The only people who should play for England are English people... If you live in England for five years, it doesn’t make you English.”

Wilshere later claimed his quotes were taken out of context.