Normally, if news broke that a footballer was to leave Manchester United, it would be considered as a low point in the player’s career.
Other than Cristiano Ronaldo, few footballers leave Old Trafford to achieve greater success elsewhere. However, in Luke Shaw’s case, news that he’s about to leave United can only be considered a good thing for the player.
According to the BBC’s Simon Stone, Shaw is set to leave the club in the summer, after yet more criticism from his manager. Jose Mourinho substituted Shaw at half-time of United’s 2-0 FA Cup quarter-final victory over Brighton on Saturday night and criticised his performance following the game.
Has Shaw been treated unfairly? https://t.co/LAYO66TmJv
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) March 18, 2018
“It was a decision of one player for another player in the same position,” Mourinho told BT Sport. “I wanted to defend better, I want my defensive line to be more solid in relation to a few, not many.”
Despite criticising Shaw’s defensive positioning, Mourinho could be seen urging full-back to push-on and join the team’s attack during the first-half.
It seems that no matter what Shaw does, his manager will find issue with it. According to the BBC report, Shaw is “upset” and “furious” with Mourinho’s latest criticism. The former Chelsea manager questioned Shaw’s “football brain” and effort in training last season, and the 22-year-old has never been a regular in his team.
Earlier this season, United triggered the option of extending Shaw’s contract until 2019. However, it now appears the full-back won’t be at Old Trafford beyond this summer.
"For me, he could be brilliant and still his manager will still find something wrong with him" https://t.co/pYRMK7iNJM
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) March 18, 2018
Shaw has experienced a very difficult time at Old Trafford. After a patchy first-season following his £30m move from Southampton in 2014, he began the 2015/16 season in excellent form. He then suffered a horrific double-leg break during a Champions League game against PSV in September 2015. He has struggled for form, fitness and playing time under Mourinho since returning, and this latest criticism appears to have signalled the end of his United career.
The BBC report, which appears to have been sourced from someone close to the player, suggests that Shaw recognises that it’s time to move on.
On BT Sport on Saturday evening, Paul Scholes suggested that Shaw would do well under his former manager Mauricio Pochettino at Tottenham.
You can watch Scholes speak about the United full-back here:
"I think sometimes, managers get in their head that there's a player not for them."
"It's a relationship that come the summer will end."
"He's just not played many games, just his body shape, he looks like needs to play games."
Scholes fully expects Luke Shaw to leave Man Utd. pic.twitter.com/aAnBUOzkmM
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 17, 2018
