Adnan Januzaj signs five-year Manchester United contract

Manchester United midfielder Adnan Januzaj has signed a new five-year contract at Old Trafford.

The 18-year-old was due to be out of contract next summer, but, following his match-winning double against Sunderland, the Red Devils have moved swiftly to secure his long-term future.

The Premier League champions, chastened by the departure of Paul Pogba, had ramped up their efforts to keep Januzaj at the club in recents weeks and have now rewarded him with a bumper new deal.

The Belgium-born teenager, who moved to United from Anderlecht in 2011, says he is delighted to have penned the new contract and is now keen to establish himself as a first-team regular.

"It’s a great thrill to be able to sign for Manchester United. Since arriving here I have always felt like this was the right club for me," Januzaj told the club's official website.

"This season has been great for me – going on the pre-season tour, making my debut in the Community Shield win at Wembley and then breaking into the team at Sunderland – it’s like a dream.

"I want to work hard now and establish myself as a Manchester United player."

United boss David Moyes is thrilled Januzaj has signed a new deal, ending the speculation surrounding the youngster's future, and reiterated his belief that Old Trafford is the perfect place to continue his development.

"I'm delighted that Adnan has committed his future to United," said the Scot. "He is an outstanding talent and has impressed me consistently since I came to United in July.

"His balance, poise and ability to beat players is truly exceptional for a boy of his age. It’s great that he recognises that this club, with its tradition for developing young players and giving them a chance on the biggest stage, is the best place for him to be."

Schweini eyes World Cup glory

Bastian Schweinsteiger says he can lead Germany to World Cup glory in 2014.
The Nationalelf have not won a tournament since clinching the European Championship in 1996, but the country's vice-captain is certain the team can end their title drought next year in Brazil.

"I have the feeling I know how to be able to win titles," the 29-year-old told Kicker. 

"The team with the biggest footballing quality do not always win, it takes something other than that as well.

"With Bayern I've already won the Champions League, now I want to win the World Cup.

"Fortunately, we still have some time before the tournament starts. However, there's already a lot of potential in the team, we're on a good way.

Joachim Low's men have booked their ticket to Brazil with a 3-0 victory over Ireland on Friday. They will encounter Sweden in the last qualification match on October 15.

Asprilla: Referees give Messi too much protection

Faustino Asprilla believes referees give Barcelona forward Lionel Messi too much protection on the pitch.

The former Colombia international is of the opinion that life was much harder for attackers during his playing days due to the quality of defenders, as well as match officials' tendency to let play continue wherever possible.

"When I still played, forwards did not get as much protection from referees. If someone fouls Messi now, people all over the world start crying and complaining," Asprilla told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

"I don't remember anyone complaining when defenders had a go at me, Gabriel Batistuta or Marco van Basten.  

"Life's much easier for attackers these days. There are no defenders like Franco Baresi and Pietro Vierchowod around. I still have nightmares about them."

Asprilla then went on to voice his opinion that wages are too high in modern football as he feels only a few players really merit excessive salaries.

"Of course, I earned good money, but nowhere near as much as players get now," the 43-year-old explained. "Nowadays even a flop earns per month what someone like Van Basten got in a year. 

"And I don't exactly see many players of Van Basten's level around ..."

Asprilla wore the jerseys of clubs such as Parma, Newcastle United, Palmeiras and Fluminense during his active career.

Neymar easier to defend than Messi, says Cruyff

Barcelona icon Johan Cruyff believes that Neymar is easier to defend than Lionel Messi due to his height, but feels the Brazil international has made an encouraging start to his Camp Nou career.
Neymar, who joined the Blaugrana from Santos this summer, is slightly taller than his Argentine team-mate and Cruyff thinks the 21-year-old's stature makes things slightly harder for him.

"Neymar is easier to defend than Messi because of his height," Cruyff told Ara.

"Leo shields the ball with his body and defenders find it harder to get a grip on him because he is smaller.  

"However, Neymar has made a good start to life at Barcelona and his quality should help him link up with Messi and Xavi. 

"We will have to wait and see how things pan out."

Neymar has made 11 official appearances for Barcelona so far this term, scoring three goals in the process.

Brazil are the best team in the world - Mayuka

Zambia striker Emmanuel Mayuka is looking forward to the challenge of facing Brazil in a friendly on Tuesday evening as he believes that the Selecao are currently the best side in the world.

The 22-year-old attacker is no stranger to international success, having led his country to Africa Cup of Nations success in 2011, when they created a major shock by defeating Cote d’Ivoire on penalties in the final. 

Mayuka was named the tournament’s outstanding player and is extremely excited by the opportunity to pit himself against Luis Felipe Scolari's men, a challenge that he believes will benefit Zambia's entire side.

“Of course it is great to play against Brazil and players such as Dani Alves and Neymar,” he told Goal. 

“Brazil are the best team in the world and it will be a good experience for Zambia to play against them.”

One Brazil star who will not be present is Thiago Silva, and Mayuka is desperately disappointed that the Paris Saint-Germain defender has been ruled out through injury.

“I would have preferred that Thiago Silva was able to play since we like to play against the best players,” he explained. “For me, it doesn’t matter against whom I play - I always like to score.”

Despite Zambia’s 2011 Africa Cup of Nations win, Patrice Beaumelle’s side have missed out on World Cup qualification and Mayuka is still coming to terms with the setback, even if he believes that the future is still bright for Chipolopolo.

“Truth to be told, it was disappointing because we really wanted to reach the World Cup,” he said. “Still, I think we made a great race and we finished second to a great Ghana team. 

“Our team is young and I’m sure we will be in other World Cups.”

Mayuka, who is presently on loan at Ligue 1 side Sochaux from Southampton, is aiming to add to his 10 international goals in Beijing, where the intriguing friendly fixture will take place.

Courtois: I am one of the best in the world

Atletico Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois believes he is among the best five players in the world in his position.

The Belgium international, 21, is enjoying a third consecutive loan spell in the Spanish capital after failing to establish himself ahead of Petr Cech at parent club Chelsea and has played a key role in the Rojiblancossensational start to the new season.

"I am in my best form. And I feel that I am among the five best goalkeepers in the world," Courtois was quoted as saying by AS.

"I've grown a lot at Atletico, especially last season when we won the European Super Cup and the Copa del Rey.

"I've made great progress, especially in terms of speed, reflexes and experience.

"I want to play, I will not be sitting on the bench. At Atletico, I feel great and it allows me to play in the Champions League."

Courtois joined Chelsea from Genk in the summer of 2011, but he has yet to make his official debut for the Europa League holders. He has a contract with Jose Mourinho's side until June 2016.

Low on verge of securing new contract

Joachim Low has suggested that he is close to signing a contract extension that will see him continue on as Germany coach past the 2014 World Cup.

Die Mannschaft booked their place in Brazil after a 3-0 win over the Republic of Ireland on Friday, and despite his current deal expiring after next summer's tournament, Low expects to pen a new agreement when he meets with German Football Association (DFB) officials before the end of the month. 

“I will have a conversation again in the coming weeks with DFB President Wolfgang Niersbach and General Secretary Helmut Sandrock. said Low to Bild. "It may be that we have agreed [to a new contract] on October 24."

While the security of a new contract may be in the offing, Low is aware that he cannot rest on his laurels and that his longevity in the role is still down to results, pointing to the fate of Bert van Marwijk to emphasise his point. 

Van Marwijk led Netherlands to Euro 2012 with an impressive qualifying record, but after losing all three group matches in Poland and Ukraine, he was forced to leave his post, and Low is aware that a similar performance from Germany in Brazil would have to result in a change of personnel. 

“When you are knocked out as Holland were at the last European Championship, going home after the first round without winning, then we probably are all aware of the fact that there will have to be a change – from both my side and the officials side, as we are not naive,” he explained to the Cologne Sunday Express. 

Low also hinted that there could be call-ups for Borussia Dortmund pair Roman Weidenfeller and Kevin Grosskreutz in time for Germany's friendly against Italy in Milan next month. 

The 33-year-old goalkeeper has never been capped for the senior national team, while Grosskreutz has not been called up since 2011, but with both players in impressive form for BVB this season, Low revealed that there was plenty of time for that to change. 

“With Roman Weidenfeller, we have been looking at him for quite some time, we know about his outstanding performances, so this is definitely a consideration,” he added. 

“We have already discussed Grosskreutz. If he plays at the level he has shown, against Marseille for example, it can again be an issue for us!”

Germany wrap up their qualification campaign on Tuesday when they face Sweden in Solna.