A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in.
It might be a tad philosophical to coin a Greek proverb, but Manchester United and their immediate 'clout' in the transfer market could be shaped by Erik ten Hag favourites who might, ultimately, see themselves replaced on the back of their own success. But each man owes Ten Hag and the club in that respect.
Football has virtually no room for sentiment and, whenever David de Gea does leave Old Trafford, the gratitude he is shown on social media and from the stands will not be replicated between the posts. United will waste no time in reassigning the number one shirt to the next in line.
