An impatient Sir Alex Ferguson said Carlos Tevez was en route back from Mars. For Manchester United supporters, Montevideo might as well be outside the solar system.
In April 2009, Tevez was into the final months of his United career and returned to Manchester after a humiliating 6-1 defeat with Argentina in Bolivia on Friday evening. A depleted United were playing against Aston Villa on Sunday without the suspended Wayne Rooney, Paul Scholes and Nemanja Vidic while Rio Ferdinand and Dimitar Berbatov were injured. Lee Martin and Federico Macheda made the bench.
Tevez was due back on Thursday afternoon but touched down 24 hours later. He still started on an afternoon Macheda mimicked Steve Bruce at the Stretford End. A month later, Tevez cupped his ears in front of Ferguson after scoring in the Manchester derby, piqued by United’s refusal to sign him permanently.
If the outgoing Tevez was that committed then what are we to make of Edinson Cavani? Cavani is no longer in Montevideo after he was granted additional leave after playing for Uruguay on Tuesday night and missed the FA Cup defeat to Middlesbrough. That gave Chris Wilder an easy team talk.
There is doubtless mitigation behind Cavani’s absence. Jason Sancho’s body was on the pitch at Villa Park last month but his mind was elsewhere and four days later it emerged he had suffered a family bereavement. United were understanding and Sancho missed two matches. Victor Lindelof retreated to Sweden with his family after his wife and their two infant sons hid from burglars while Lindelof was playing at Brentford.
The difference with Cavani is this has happened before. Last year, the United medical staff would declare Cavani fit only for him to give a second opinion: he wasn’t. It went public when Cavani was included in the travelling squad to face AC Milan only for him to pull out two hours later. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer clarified it was Cavani’s call.
Cavani enjoyed eight weeks off after the Copa America in July. He returned in time for the second game of the season at Southampton but was absent and it was originally suggested he was unhappy not to have travelled. That seemed odd. It eventually transpired Cavani had declined selection.
On Friday night, the United supporters did not serenade Cavani. Whether he is starting, on the bench or not at the stadium, they always do. His second season was worth it for matchgoers to bond with a striker whose commitment once he crosses the white line is undeniable. Off it, it is suspect. Cavani, instrumental in Marcus Rashford's winner against West Ham, could have sharpened United's blunt finishing against Boro.
United fans chanted Anthony Elanga’s name as he warmed up and, most stirringly, after he endangered spectators in the Stratford End. Elanga suffered stage fright and then racial abuse from lowlifes. He had more than merited support. He wanted to play. Cavani didn’t.
During his post-match press conference, Ralf Rangnick was more irked by Jesse Lingard's absence and absolved himself of blame. The United matchday squad listed two goalkeepers on the bench, almost as if to make a point.
Rangnick communicates cogently and his English is impeccable. Lingard’s additional leave is believed to have been suggested by the football director John Murtough in a telephone call and Rangnick indicated a third party was responsible.
"I told you what my information was and my knowledge was and of course, I would have loved to have had Jesse in the squad," Rangnick bristled. "We were one outfield player less on the teamsheet today, so why would I have allowed him to have four or five days off? I would have loved to have had him in the squad but it was not the case."
Murtough’s title is arguably weakened by the consultancy role Rangnick is scheduled to assume in July, although Murtough lobbied for Rangnick's appointment.
Murtough has jointly run the United academy, recruited the women’s team from scratch and ascended to an influential role. He is an affable presence and the enthusiasm he expressed at United’s gripping FA Youth Cup win over Chelsea in 2018 is not shared widely enough at the club.
To cynics, he is an easy in-house hire and too compliant to have a transformative effect. Rangnick is an objective troubleshooter, prepared to dig out the millennial members of the dressing room and unflustered when they respond (on social media, naturally).
One high-profile United player has spoken disparagingly of Rangnick’s CV and that is unlikely to deter the German. These United players are on course to become the most unsuccessful group in almost 40 years.
Rangnick was responsible for Cavani's absence but the issue was historic. Cavani was emboldened to contact Rangnick and request two more days in his home country because United has become his European retirement home. If Lingard was so desperate for a transfer and playing time, he did not have to go to Dubai or accept Murtough's recommendation.
When Rangnick's replacement unpacks his boxes in the manager's office at Carrington he is unlikely to have either player to manage. He will, however, have to manage a club that sometimes operates as though it is on another planet.
