Jose Mourinho confirms Luke Shaw will get a new Manchester United contract after turning his career round
England defender looked to be heading for the Old Trafford exit earlier this season but has listened to the criticism from United boss Mourinho.
LUKE SHAW has saved his Manchester United career with a change of attitude on the pitch and in training.
The full-back looked like he was on his way out with his contract up this summer having been largely ignored by manager Jose Mourinho since he took charge of the Red Devils.
But Mourinho believes Shaw has made a big effort to convince him he can fit in with his methods, as SunSport revealed last week.
And the United boss has today confirmed he will be rewarded with a new deal.
Mourinho said: “I know Shaw since he arrived in the Premier League with Southampton and know his potential and quality.
“Could he come in my direction? The way I like my players to be not just on the pitch but during the training week? And he made a big effort.
“He’s been free of minor injuries for a few months which sometimes stops the evolution and I’m really happy.
“The natural consequence of it is that he will have his contract and he will be a United player for years.”
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Late last year United activated a one year-option on the £80,000-a-week deal Shaw signed when he arrived in a £27million deal from Southampton.
That meant he still has a further 18 months left to run on his current terms, but Mourinho has now instructed the club to tie him down long term.
It completes a remarkable turnaround in fortunes for the 22-year-old, who seemed almost certain to be on his way out of the club at the end of this season.
United have been active in the market in the pursuit of a new left-back, with Mourinho previously identifying the position as a problem that needed solving.
He had been showing a strong interest in going after Tottenham defender Danny Rose, who is valued at more than £50m by the London club.
The other option was Juventus star Alex Sandro, who himself came with a £60m price-tag as United prepared to pay big to secure a top class defender.
My View - by Duncan Wright, senior sports reporter
LUKE SHAW has dragged himself back from the abyss to save his Manchester United career – and the credit should go to him and Jose Mourinho.
Shaw looked certain to be leaving the club at the end of this season, seemingly unable to do anything to convince his manager he was good enough to play for the club.
Fair enough, a badly broken leg has hindered his Old Trafford career but since recovering from that horrible injury the England man was hardly breaking down the door demanding to be selected.
Questions over his general state of fitness had been raised before by ex-United bos Louis van Gaal, and when he reported back for pre-season last summer it’s fair to say he looked a little on the heavy side.
When Paul Scholes came out in public to claim Shaw wasn’t living the life of a footballer, it appeared only to confirm his United career was going down the drain.
Certainly a series of public rebukes by Mourinho did little to dampen the belief the two did not get on and were heading for a parting of the ways.
But while there were harsh words in public, Mourinho did not give up on the player and worked hard with him on the training ground, getting him to sharpen up his game and tactical awareness.
He was prepared to give Shaw a chance, and the 22-year-old responded by listening, taking on board the criticism and setting about improving himself.
Now Shaw is beginning to look every bit a United player for the long-term – and there are two people to thank for that.