Manchester United’s Adnan Januzaj claims Paul Pogba wants to play with him at Old Trafford once Sunderland loan ends
Belgian attacking midfielder hopes he will get a chance to impress Jose Mourinho once he leads Black Cats to safety
PAUL POGBA has told Adnan Januzaj he wants him back at Old Trafford.
World-record signing Pog remains close friends with the Belgian from their early days together at Manchester United.
And Januzaj, who has 18 months left on his United contract, is keen to give it one last go at the Theatre of Dreams.
He is currently on a season-long loan at Sunderland after spending much of last term with Borussia Dortmund. But Januzaj still believes he can convince United boss Jose Mourinho to give him a chance — and knows he has the full backing of £89million man Pogba.
Januzaj, 21, said: “Paul is a great player. He made a different choice but eventually he was successful and he has returned. He remains a great player.
“He’s a very good friend. At United, we were always together. We went to dinner together, played the PlayStation. He was a brother to me.
“Of course, Paul asks if I’ll be back at Manchester United. He wants to play with me. But I am now at Sunderland and I have to do what’s right for the club.
“These are decisions from above. I’m a professional footballer and I have to remain professional and work.”
Januzaj’s first aim is to try to haul David Moyes’ men out of the Premier League drop zone, starting at West Brom today.
But in the summer he is due to return to United and hopes the Special One will give him an opportunity to shine.
Lyon and Marseille are among the clubs waiting to pounce if he does not get a chance — but staying with United would be his first choice.
He added: “My goal is always to play at Manchester United. But you should always keep your ears open and keep options open.
“You cannot play for the future. I have a contract until 2018. There are many clubs interested. It is up to me to work, the rest will come.
“I never had any problems with Mourinho. He is a top coach. Last summer, they asked me to play a year on loan, to get some game-time because I had not played for a year.
“I joined Sunderland for playing time and to continue to make progress. After this season we’ll see again.
“I’ve always had confidence in my football qualities. I’ve never been afraid of anything.”
Great things were expected from Januzaj when he inherited the legendary No 11 shirt from Ryan Giggs.
Yet he did not click with former boss Louis van Gaal, who never really played him in what the youngster believes is his best position. Speaking to the Belgian press, Januzaj said: “I had a difficult year but that’s football. You have to take it like a man.
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“It has not worked with Van Gaal. But you must always work and show people who have not believed in me that I have the qualities.
“Giggs was an icon and gave me his number. He always told me that if I needed him for something, I could always go to him. But I was always a No 10, not a left winger or right winger or a striker. That’s how I grew up.”
Januzaj, who is also close to United midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan from their days together at Dortmund, takes heart from the way his Belgium team-mate Marouane Fellaini has turned things around at Old Trafford.
The former Everton midfielder looked destined for the exit door but has secured an extra 12 months at United in recent weeks — and was the hero of the EFL Cup win over Hull.
Januzaj said: “It is not easy to go nine years in England, playing at the highest level like Marouane has done. He played at Everton and that is also a top club. He is mentally strong and many players do not have that. It is an asset for him.
“With all the criticism he has received, he has continued to perform at a top level. He’s a good friend — and he can help United.”
It is more than three years now since Januzaj burst on to the scene at United — ironically with a couple of goals at Sunderland in October 2013.
He seems to have been around a long time but is keen to stress he is still only at the start of his career and is convinced the best is yet to come.
Januzaj said: “I’ve played a lot of games as a pro. That’s why people think I’m older than I actually am. "Some estimate me to be 25 or 26 because I started very early. People forget that I’m only 21.
“I have received a lot of criticism. People talk about things they know nothing about. I’ve always been mentally strong.
“The criticism will not hurt me. It is true that the fans might criticise me more than any other player at Sunderland.
“That’s because they know I’m a player who can make the difference at any time. But the team is not just me. Therefore, we must keep working.”