On Tuesday 22 November, as Portugal prepared for their opening game in the 2022 World Cup
Cristiano Ronaldo was no longer a Manchester United player.
On the day that his nemesis Lionel Messi faced a shock loss with his Argentine side, somehow the headlines would quickly switch back.
‘Cristiano Ronaldo is to leave Manchester United by mutual agreement, with immediate effect,’ read the statement
‘The club thanks him for his immense contribution across two spells at Old Trafford, scoring 145 goals in 346 appearances, and wishes him and his family well for the future.
‘Everyone at Manchester United remains focused on continuing the team’s progress under Erik ten Hag and working together to deliver success on the pitch.’
Back in July, Ronaldo stated his displeasure being a part of a team that would not play in the Champions League
And things never improved for him as new boss Erik ten Hag made it clear he wasn’t likely to get much action either.
Had he been firing on all cylinders and tearing apart Premier League defences each week, United may have been less willing to agree to this. But he hasn’t been.