Manchester United were over the moon when they announced the signing of Cristiano Ronaldo last summer in a dramatic end to the transfer window.
But less than 12 months after and the Portugal international could be on his way out after telling the club that he wants to leave. After the Red Devils finished sixth in the Premier League, it means that they will spend a season in the Europa League.
For a player of Ronaldo's credentials, that will not do and he wants to spend what is left of his career battling it out for the top prizes. Several clubs have already been linked including Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Napoli.
However, this is not the first time that Ronaldo has pushed for a move from Old Trafford and there are echoes of the situation that evolved back in 2009. The 37-year-old may have made his name at United but it was at Real Madrid where he peaked.
And it was the player that pushed for the move more than anyone else but he was denied the chance by Sir Alex Ferguson and the club. It led to a public spat where Ronaldo claimed he was being kept at Old Trafford against his will.
After Sepp Blatter's remarkable comments where he asserted that United should stop treating Ronaldo like a "modern-day slave" and release him to Real Madrid, the striker concurred: "I agree with the statements of the president, he is right.
"You know what I said, what I want and what I would like. Let's see. I agree completely with the president of FIFA. Now I have to wait and see, but I do not know where I will begin the season."
United managed to keep hold of Ronaldo but the damage had been done and Real Madrid came in the following summer far more determined. However, the Portugal international insisted that he had no intention of leaving for the Bernabeu, despite his attempts the year before.
In May 2009, he had said: "At the moment I'm at United and I don't care about what happens [at Real Madrid]. I only care about what will happen next season at Manchester United." Less than a month later, though, and Ronaldo had completed a blockbuster transfer to Spain in a then-world record deal worth £80million.
Ronaldo has yet to speak out on the recent reports surrounding his future while United fans are desperate that he stays, and he is not alone. Erik ten Hag would hate to lose his main man and finds himself already in Ferguson's shoes just weeks into the job.
