Cristiano Ronaldo’s abrupt exit was inevitable and good for all parties. The split may have looked amicable between club and player, perhaps less so between striker and his manager.
There was no way back for him at Old Trafford following his "no respect" comments on Erik ten Hag, which was ultimately what Ronaldo wanted. It’s also solved a problem for Ten Hag, who had to pander to his superstar status despite his presence clearly stunting the team.
But while that cloud has gone, the Reds boss faces a tough choice in January with limited funds available. It’s widely thought that the board will not hand Ten Hag vast amounts in the new year after spending £225m on four signings over the summer.
