Manchester United Prodigy Adnan Januzaj Crowned Best Teenager in European Football

Manchester United starlet Adnan Januzaj has been named the best teenager in European football by Italian newspaper Gazzetta Dello Sport.

The 19-year-old was ranked ahead of Brazilian attacker Lucas Piazon, currently on loan at Vitesse Arnhem from Chelsea, and Paris Saint Germain defender Marquinhos by the respected newspaper.

Gerard Deulofeu, on loan at Everton from Barcelona, finished fourth ahead of Liverpool's Raheem Sterling in fifth, while Southampton full back Luke Shaw was handed eighth spot in a list of 60.

Kurt Zouma, who will join Chelsea this summer after the club agreed a fee with St Etienne in January, clinched 16<sup>th while Tottenham midfielder Nabil Bentaleb's emergence this season saw him finish 20<sup>th.

18-year-old Dundee United playmaker Ryan Gauld also made the list at 22, ahead of the likes of Benfica starlet Lazar Markovic and 17-year-old Alen Halilovic, who recently agreed to join Barcelona this summer.

Januzaj has enjoyed a breakout season for David Moyes' side this season where he has been one of the very few players to come through with his reputation enhanced. In his first season in the senior side after outgrowing the under-21 ranks last season, the Belgian born youngster has looked at ease surrounded by the club's established talents and has been one of the few positives to emerge from a bleak season.

After impressive cameo appearances off the bench against Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion at Old Trafford, Januzaj scored twice on his full debut away to Sunderland to help his side deal a 2-1 victory.

After his dazzling start to the season his opportunities in the first team have dwindled in recent weeks but his manager has explained he is keen to avoid the teenager suffering from burnout having already racked up 29 appearances in his first senior campaign.

"Adnan has played an incredible amount of games for a 19-year-old," Moyes said last week.

"We have to be mindful of that. We have seen signs in training that we have to be careful what we do with him.

"But he is a great talent. He is someone we know will go a long way at United.

"But we are just being careful with him. We have to do the right things and he has played a lot of football."