Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw has hit back at his teammate Romelu Lukaku for leaking the results of the club’s pre-season speed tests.
The Belgium international is on the verge of leaving Old Trafford having fallen out of favour with manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer who has deemed the 26-year-old surplus to requirements at the club.
Lukaku travelled with the rest of the first team squad to Australia and Asia for the club’s pre-season tour this month, but did not play in any of the four games and has again been left out of the squad of Saturday’s match against AC Milan.
Inter have already failed with two bids for Lukaku, while a complicated part exchange deal with Juventus has hit a snag and depends on Paulo Dybala’s willingness to move to England.
A lack of mobility and pace has played a part in Solskjaer’s decision to leave Lukaku from his first team plans as he wants to implement a relentless pressing style this campaign.
Lukaku took to Twitter on Friday in order to dispel the claims he is lacking in the speed department, while responding to a post from the Los Angeles Lakers.
He pressed his case further soon afterwards, providing a video that was later removed, which listed United’s fastest players in a training exercise with the result showing he trailed behind only Diogo Dalot.
The United defender appeared to be far from happy at the information being made public and responded by saying: ‘They only wanted me to go 70% don’t let me start speaking on you boy.’
Lukaku’s social media activity will represent an unwelcome distraction for Ole Solskjaer who has presided over a successful pre-season.
Speaking ahead of the game against Milan, Solskjaer said: ‘We have done really well and won five games, but that is not the point.
‘You want to lay down your principles, how you want to play. We’ve looked sharper and sharper. I think we’re looking strong for that first weekend. I hope we’ve started on something.’
