Cristiano Ronaldo's future at Manchester United is looking increasingly untenable and Gary Neville has an ideal solution - but can the club utilise it?
It became clear that Ronaldo wasn't long for United under Erik ten Hag before a ball was even kicked in his reign. It didn't take an expert to look at the Dutchman's ideal style of football compared to what the one-time best player in the world is now capable of doing on the pitch to see they would be unlikely to coexist.
Ronaldo may have even seen it himself. The Portuguese disruptively made it clear he wanted to leave the club just before they were set to embark on a pre-season tour. It's understood that a lack of Champions League football, slow progress in the transfer market and a 25 per cent pay cut were the main reasons fuelling his desire but maybe he already knew he wouldn't be playing regularly, which is something he can just not abide.
