FORMER MANCHESTER UNITED assistant manager Rene Meulensteen believes Louis van Gaal is not a fan of €38 million summer signing Luke Shaw.
The England international, who became the most expensive teenager in world football when he moved to Old Trafford, has yet to make his debut for the Red Devils and was criticised for a lack of fitness by his new manager.
Injuries have hampered Shaw’s hopes of impressing the Dutchman – as have the signings of Daley Blind and Marcos Rojo, both capable of playing at left-back – and he was once again overlooked for Sunday’s clash with Leicester City, an unused substitute in the shock 5-3 defeat.
And Meulensteen, who spent over a decade at United before being axed at the start of David Moyes’ reign, believes Van Gaal’s decision to bring in additional cover for left-back reflects badly on Shaw’s hopes of getting in the first team.
When asked on talkSPORT if Van Gaal doesn’t rate Shaw, Meulensteen replied: “Yes. It’s a big surprise for me. He would have been informed by the club that they were putting this bid in for Shaw because he’s an up-and-coming player.
“He’s got a good left foot and a lot of pace. He’s got a lot to learn to get to a Man United level, though. “He’s a great prospect but he’s brought Rojo in, which is bad news for Shaw.”
A raft of injuries and suspensions could give the youngster a chance in the first team, however, with Jonny Evans and Phil Jones carrying injuries while Tyler Blackett, sent off against Leicester, is suspended.
