It’s remarkable to think that less than a year on from his emotional return, Manchester United are now ready to facilitate an exit for Cristiano Ronaldo.
When the Portuguese icon returned to Old Trafford last summer, he was given the kind of hero’s welcome reserved for the very few. His second home debut was closer to a coronation than a football match, with thousands upon thousands ready to toast their returning legend.
And on that balmy afternoon in September at least, Ronaldo delivered, scoring twice in a 4-1 victory over Newcastle United. The king back on his throne. Or so it appeared. But Ronaldo knew he was returning to a very different Manchester United to the one which he left in 2009 - one that had dominated English football for the best part of three decades.
Where there was once Sir Alex Ferguson in the dugout, there was now Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. And where there was once a side filled with world class individuals, there was now a team attempting to scale back to the top of English football.
The appeal of taking United back to the top was too big a draw for Ronaldo. Having tasted success ever since making his first United bow 18 years previous. However, 11 months on, it has become clear that his glorious return was little more than a false dawn, with Mirror Football understanding both parties are now ready to call time on his second stay.
Erik ten Hag had hoped to keep the 37-year-old as part of his new squad, but with the vultures circling after an infamously terrible start to the season, his negative attitude is a burden too big to carry.
In fairness to Ronaldo, the uber-driven Portuguese made it clear to his new team-mates on that jubilant day at Old Trafford, that the celebrations would quickly stop if his levels weren’t matched. According to the Sun, Ronaldo delivered a passionate speech to his new colleagues moments before his debut and said point blank that a lack of success would not be tolerated.
"I have returned to Manchester United for two reasons,” he is reported to have said. "The first is because I love the club. The second is I love the winning mentality that breeds through the ranks of this club.
"I have not come back to be a cheerleader. If you guys want to succeed, then I need you to love this club from the bottom of your hearts.
"You need to eat, sleep and fight for this club. Whether you play or do not play, you need to support your teammates and always give 100 per cent for the club. I am here to win and nothing else. Winning brings us happiness. I want to be happy, do you? You are all amazing players and I believe in you, or else I would have not returned.
"The fans will support you, if you give your best. I just want to create a winning mentality, so when I do retire one day, the winning mentality will remain, and this group of players will dominate football, like we did in the past.
"I will do my best for the team but I need your support too. Are you ready to fight? Are you ready to leave everything on the pitch?"
There are elements of his speech that look laughable in hindsight - particularly his belief in the current crop of United stars. But what can’t be questioned is Ronaldo’s unerring drive to be successful and that their current malaise has subsequently left the new manager with little choice but to give into his demands.
