We’re currently on another long, dull international break, but there are still plenty of news topics to discuss. So without further ado, let’s take a spin through the latest Manchester United related news and notes items circulating on the internet today.
Left back Luke Shaw seems to have truly completed his career revival. The young Englishman has done a total 180 on the trajectory of his United career and is now very close to agreeing to a contract extension. Sky Sports reports that the two sides are nearing an agreement for a new long term deal.
Shaw has earned his way back into the first team, and he’s been among the more impressive players for this Red Devils side this season. It’s a great comeback story when you realize that he was strongly linked with a move away this summer. As for the man he replaced in the lineup, Ashley Young, Sky also reports that his form will be assessed before a decision is made on his future.
Likewise for right back and team Captain Antonio Valencia.
How is Wayne Rooney doing since he moved across the pond in Major League Soccer? Well, he rescued one of the absolute worst sides in all of MLS, D.C. United and has helped lead them towards the postseason. A bottom feeder before Rooney arrived, D.C. are now poised to reach the playoffs, provided they close the deal in the final week of the regular season.
D.C. was languishing at the bottom of the Eastern Conference table with 11 points and just two wins in its first 14 games before Rooney made his debut with the club on July 14 following his move from Everton in the Premier League.
Since then, United have collected 33 points and won 10 times, including a 1-0 victory against FC Dallas on Saturday that moved Ben Olsen’s team into the MLS playoff places.
Finally, a lot of what Zlatan Ibrahimovic does off the pitch makes him a lightning rod for criticism, but what he did here is pure class. This is truly a wonderful, noble gesture.
Ibrahimovic met the Thai youth soccer team that was trapped, and later escaped from that watery cave this summer. The Wild Boars team did their first TV interview since the ordeal on the Ellen Degeneres show, where they were surprised by an appearance from Ibrahimovic.
https://twitter.com/utdreport/status/1051887878521917441
“I thought that that was brave, but this team is braver than me,” said Ibra. “They showed their collective team work and had patience… believing in other hands also. This is probably the best team in the world.”
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net and TheBank.News, which is partnered with News Now. Banks, a former writer for NBC Chicago.com and Chicago Tribune.com, is currently a regular contributor to SB Nation, WGN CLTV and Chicago Now.
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