The timing of Cristiano Ronaldo expressing a desire to leave Manchester United couldn't have been much worse for the club, arriving 48 hours before Erik ten Hag welcomed the rest of his squad back to Carrington and deep into a transfer window that had been well planned.
United had spent much of May and June planning their new recruits under Ten Hag, with Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong top of the list. A deal to sign Tyrell Malacia has been completed, Christian Eriksen is close to signing and De Jong and Lisandro Martinez could follow.
But Ronaldo has thrown a spanner in the works. If the 37-year-old pushes for an exit then it will leave Ten Hag with a hole in his attack where there was previously a player with more than 800 career goals to his name.
