The banner affixed to the second tier reads 'The King of the Stretford End', a homage to Denis Law. In Cristiano Ronaldo's words, he is The King.
Ronaldo promised 'the king' would play on Sunday. He did not just play, he started. Ronaldo lasted 45 minutes on his first appearance for Manchester United in 12 weeks.
The last word Ronaldo uttered that afternoon at Brighton was "bye". It would have been a fitting epitaph yet the king is not dead and long may he reign, if his fanbase is anything to go by.
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Ronaldo had one sighter and blazed that over, much to the anguish of the thousands of schoolchildren whose summer holiday was enriched by a Sunday in the company of footballing royalty. Ronaldo's replacement, Amad, was on target at the Stretford End within three minutes of his interval introduction.
On the day Erik ten Hag first managed at Old Trafford and Lisandro Martinez and Christian Eriksen lined up in red for the first time, their privilege was a mere footnote. Ronaldo was headline billing.
On the stalls on Sir Matt Busby Way and Warwick Road there were flags for the kings - Cantona and Ronaldo. "Ronaldo 7" shirts were ubiquitous, the followers' worshipping of him not dampened by uncertainty over his future. The Megastore this week ran out of junior-sized '7s', denying schoolchildren a Ronaldo shirt. Or Fred. Or Alex Telles.
The return of the king drew an impressive crowd a week before Old Trafford hosts competitive football. The directors' box was teeming with United players who appeared in Saturday's friendly defeat to Atletico Madrid in Oslo, as well as Sir Alex Ferguson. The triumphant Coleen Rooney brought some glamour, accompanying son and United academy member Kai.
Ronaldo was at the front of the queue to emerge from the tunnel for the warm-up to a mixed soundtrack of cheering and cries of his signature celebration - not to be mistaken for booing. Ronaldo dribbled the ball to the north stand to milk the applause he reciprocated and then did likewise with the south stand.
Ten Hag indicated in Perth last week United's attacking quartet against Brighton would likely be Bruno Fernandes, Jadon Sancho, Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford. Sancho's illness, United's profligacy in Oslo and Ronaldo's start could force a rethink. If he is still at the club.
As for the contest, this was United's least satisfying of their six-game summer schedule as their second XI did little to exert pressure on the regulars. Martinez and Eriksen both acquitted themselves impressively and are worthy of consideration for a competitive full debut in a week's time.
Besuited in a casual two-piece, trainers and no tie whilst clutching a notepad, Ten Hag's attire resembled a Silicon Valley upstart. Any hint of favouritism towards his compatriots was absent as he berated Donny van de Beek and then Tahith Chong. Van de Beek responded by springing a breakaway Ronaldo squandered and Chong shot meekly, his selection from the start inexplicable.
Ethan Laird is preparing to relocate to Watford for a season and was distracted inside 10 seconds, gifting Alvaro Garcia a free hit that Tom Heaton repelled. That lured Ten Hag into the technical area, where he wasted little time in ushering United higher up the pitch and beckoning Ronaldo over to the touchline. During a stoppage in the 34th minute, Ten Hag made a beeline for Ronaldo, who did not appear to appreciate the directive.
Alejandro Garnacho clocked up 21,315 air miles without playing during United's pre-season tour and it showed. The Argentinian was excitable on the ball and excited the crowd, his purpose and penetration accelerating United's counter-attacks on an afternoon they struggled to control their opponent.
A crowd so juvenile there was more fascination over paper airplanes drifting onto the pitch in the second-half did not tame the two dozen Vallecano fans from bringing the smell of cordite back to matchday. A commotion broke out when the police present attempted to revoke their banner as they were enveloped in red smoke. Mystifyingly, the Vallecano fans did not re-emerge for the second-half.
Martinez relished his South American duel with Radamel Falcao, his diminutive stature striking in an unforgiving arena. Falcao, hardly an imposing presence, dwarfed the Argentinian. Martinez was unaffected and his physicality and passing range were noticeable prior to his removal, along with Eriksen, on the hour.
Of the starters in Norway, Victor Lindelof's place against Brighton is possibly insecure as Ten Hag intends to partner Harry Maguire with Martinez. The dearth of presence in United's midfield would ensure Scott McTominay starts by default.
Falcao, scorer of two goals in M16 during his sole season with United, unleashed his most potent shot at Old Trafford and rattled the crossbar. Vallecano levelled through Garcia after Alex Telles reminded United supporters why Ten Hag has added another left-back to the squad in Tyrell Malacia.
Vallecano had no interest in bowing to the king.
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