The Warm-Up: Luke Shaw is in shape, and he'd like you to know about it

People think because of the way I’m naturally built I’m bigger than I am. People can say I’m fat but I know my own body. Yeah, of course I always look big because I’m bigger built. You could say a Wayne Rooney type of body. But of course I worked hard and not just for them [the critics], I wanted to for myself, get in the best shape and that wasn’t my best shape.

I guess you’ve just got to take it because there is always going to be negative criticism and positive but I think both of them can make you stronger. And I think I’ve been unlucky because I’ve had a few ups and downs with different managers, but I would say I’ve never been out of shape. I’ve just, I don’t know, sometimes people don’t think I’m fitter than I am but that’s all in the past. And, honestly, I feel really good and I’m raring to go.

You don’t really want to be in this situation but I am and I know I have got the quality and the work especially now to become a Manchester United player. Because in my moment now it would be easy to give up in the last year or so, especially the last year I’ve had where many things happened on and off the pitch and all that, it was easy for me to quit and say: ‘I want to go.’ But I believe in myself and I believe in my qualities that I’ve got what it takes to be a Manchester United player and that’s why I’m not giving up.

I was in Dubai with my girlfriend. It was funny. I was just on my phone flicking through stuff. I got the text and I accidentally clicked on it straightaway. He’s probably thinking, ‘Jesus Christ!’ But that wasn’t the case. I said to my girlfriend, ‘F—, I’ve just opened it and I must look so weird now.’ It was fine. I left it a little bit to reply because I didn’t want to look too eager.

Hey! Over here! Come take a look at this! Helloooooooooo! Attracting attention away from Cristiano Ronaldo isn’t easy in Italy at the moment. A full fortnight after “the signing of the century,” the consternation and incredulity endures. It is dominating the news cycle in Italian sport. Every day there are articles about Ronaldo having the body of a 20-year-old, his frankly ridiculous goal average, the fact he makes more money than all but seven Serie A clubs, and where Cristiano Jr. might play football in Turin.