Manchester United’s Adnan Januzaj looks set to make an international appearance for Kosovo, but remain eligible to represent another nation.
The Kosovan Football Federation have confirmed they have contacted the Belgian born Januzaj about him appearing for them in the nation’s first international game, against Haiti in Mitrovica on March 5th.
The game would not, however, be an official FIFA friendly. (Kosovo is not recognised by the United Nations and until it is they cannot be admitted to FIFA.) This means that while Kosovo can play other FIFA nations in friendly games, they cannot wear national emblems or play an anthem before the match, and those players who play for them – including Januzaj – will not disqualify themselves from paying for a FIFA member country.
Januzaj has attracted the attention of several nations; with Belgium, Albania, Turkey, Serbia and England all hoping the young winger will represent them at international level.
Januzaj was born in Brussels but is eligible for several nations through a diverse geography of family ties. The winger can appear for Albania through his parents, Turkey through his grandparents and Serbia, due to Kosovo’s independence not being recognised by the UN or FIFA. Januzaj is not eligible to play for England, but could play for the country in 2018, due to time spent living there. He would be 23 by the time he became eligible.
Kosovo is where the bulk of Januzaj’s family hail from.
"We are in discussions with Adnan's family and to have a player of his amazing talent play in our very first match would be hugely symbolic," Eroll Salihu, Secretary General of the Football Federation of Kosovo, told the Daily Star.
"We feel he owes it to his people to take some part in the match, even if it is for just 15 minutes.
"I stress this is a symbolic gesture. By playing in this match we are not thinking he is making any commitment to us.
"It is a friendly and would not have an affect on him being able to play for another country in the future.
"It is not our purpose to do that, but we hope he can be with us on a very special and memorable occasion," Salihu added.
