Man Utd call for Adnan Januzaj protection

DAVID MOYES fears rising star Adnan Januzaj has become a target of bullies at home and abroad.

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Adnan Januzaj has been urged to adapt to the English game after taking a bruising in the recent Fulham match [JOHN PETERS/GETTY IMAGES]
 

But the Manchester United boss has urged Januzaj to emulate Lionel Messi and let his football do the talking.
Teenager Januzaj has emerged as one of the brightest talents in Europe this season.
But the 18-year-old has also come in for some special treatment from rival defenders and Moyes wants it to stop.

Sacsha Riether stamped on Januzaj during stoppage time in United’s win at Fulham and is facing a possible three-match ban after being charged by the FA with violent conduct last night.

Januzaj has also been targeted in recent Premier League games against Southampton and Stoke as his reputation begins to grow.

Adnan has been told to follow in Lionel Messi's footsteps and get stuck in [IAN KINGTON/AFP/GETTY]

“I do think Adnan is going to need a little bit of protection or we are going to find he is getting kicked up and down”

David Moyes

Moyes fears there is more rough treatment to come and wants referees to protect him for the good of the game.
Moyes said: “I hadn’t seen it (Riether’s challenge) until after the game, the view from the dugout made it impossible to see, but it’s a bad stamp and it does look deliberate.
“But that’s for the referee to deal with on the day. Or if nowadays they look at it differently, then they’ll do that and decide what they want to do.
“But I do think Adnan is going to need a little bit of protection or we are going to find he is getting kicked up and down.
“I do think he deserves a little bit more than he is getting at this time.”

David Moyes is concerned that Januzaj is not getting enough protection from referees [MARTIN RICKETT/PA WIRE]

Moyes has backed Januzaj to deal with the rough treatment but still urged him to take a leaf out of Argentina and Barcelona superstar Messi’s book when it comes to handling the bullies.

He added: “We have spoken to him about it, I have got to say he gets kicked up and down in training every day and gets on with it. He’s learned from the good professionals that he’s got to get on with it.

“He only needs to look at Lionel Messi, who is probably the best in the world at getting kicked, getting up and getting on with it, and continuing to produce magic all the time. But he does need a little bit of protection.”