Some characters in football are more memorable than others.
For Jose Mourinho, it is fair to say that he will be remembered forever and a day. The former Manchester United boss, who guided Roma to the final of the Europa Conference League on Thursday night, beating Leicester City, is one football's greatest ever coaches and sports a CV that most fellow coaches will only ever be able to dream about replicating.
Whilst he has enjoyed success in just about every job that he has ever had during his 22-year coaching career, he has left a lasting impact wherever he has been, whether it be by filling the trophy cabinet or by still attracting attention. As far as his Old Trafford career was concerned, Mourinho left his mark by ticking both boxes.
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Sacked four years ago this coming December, Mourinho is never far from the conversation when United are the topic. His two-and-a-half-year spell at Old Trafford brought three trophies, including the Europa League - the last trophy that any United manager has had the honour of lifting.
But even though Mourinho has long since exited Old Trafford, returned to the Premier League with Tottenham Hotspur and is now enjoying success with Roma, he continues to never be too far away from developments at United. That is because, this time, he is being linked with a swoop for three United players.
According to a recent report by Italian media outlet Corriere dello Sport, Mourinho is keen on being reunited with Diogo Dalot, Eric Bailly and Nemanja Matic in Rome. The former Chelsea boss was responsible for signing all three players during his time at Old Trafford and Bailly is highly likely to join Matic in leaving the club this summer, whereas uncertainty surrounds Dalot's future.
Matic will leave the club on a free transfer at the end of the season and Bailly, the Manchester Evening News understands, has outlined his desire to leave to his teammates. The centre-back, despite being under contract until 2024, has started just five times this season and has made just seven appearances in all competitions overall.
There is little point in retaining his services and United's decision to grant him a three-year contract extension last summer will rank as one of the most bizarre decisions they have made in recent years. It is understandable why he wants to leave and kick-start his career once again.
With that in mind, coupled with reports from Italy claiming that Mourinho would like to strengthen his defensive options with Bailly this summer, Mourinho could come to United's aid. They need to make wholesale changes within the first-team squad this summer and if Mourinho is keen on being reunited with the former Villarreal man it could make life a whole lot easier for United, with Bailly's exit being dependent on a transfer fee being paid.
A tally of seven appearances this season will have a knock-on effect on what United can recoup for his services, but if it means offloading him and freeing up space in the squad then it is a loss that they will have to stomach. They cannot continue to stockpile players when they have no intention of using them.
The club has become too bogged down in using that approach and it cannot be allowed to continue a second longer. United need to change their recruitment methods and offloading Bailly would be a step in the right direction.
Dalot, meanwhile, was drafted in by Mourinho as a promising, young right-back with a point to prove. He has shown flashes of his capabilities, but is he the long-term solution United need? Again, if Mourinho comes calling and Roma produce a respectable offer, United may wish to consider taking the money and running.
Mourinho's past experiences of working with the likes of Dalot and Bailly has the potential to serve United well this summer, in the sense that his wish to work with some of his old players once again could pave the way for Erik ten Hag to clear the decks and start afresh. Mourinho may have been criticised for some of his actions during his Old Trafford tenure but he could prove to be a handy benefactor in helping United shape their next chapter.
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