Well that seems to be very much that.
It was always believed that Luke Shaw was struggling in his quest to solidify his Manchester United future but, following his manager’s most recent comments, it seems that the battle is already over.
And the left-back hasn’t won.
In the wake of United’s 0-0 stalemate at home to West Brom, Mourinho issued a withering assessment of Shaw’s attitude in training and claims that the 21-year-old pales in comparison to the other options available in that position.
“Luke Shaw? It was difficult for him to be on the bench because I cannot compare him with Ashley Young, with Darmian, with Blind,” Mourinho said, with quotes appearing in the Telegraph.
“The way he trains, the way he commits, the focus, the ambition, I cannot compare. He’s a long way behind.”
Reporters reminded Mourinho that Shaw is an England international, suggesting that perhaps he should reconsider his stance on the full-back who signed from Southampton for £28 million in 2014, but the Red Devils boss had a dismissive response.
“Yes. Joe Hart is an English international and is playing on loan in Italy,” he said.
Mourinho is thought to be in the market for a new left-back once the summer transfer window opens, with Monaco’s Benjamin Mendy a top target for the Portuguese.
And while all signs point to the exit door for Shaw, it’s believed that United will not be willing to part ways with him without recouping a decent portion of the fee they paid back when he was a talent who was eliciting headlines like these.
Mourinho had previously offered hope for Shaw, saying the below in February.
“The only thing I can say is that Luke is working well,” Mourinho said after a 2-0 victory over Watford. “He doesn’t have any problem and he is working well. He is fighting hard. There is no problem with him. He is fighting hard.”
His tune seems to have changed quite a bit in two short months.
