Cristiano Ronaldo's departure in 2009 opened an irreparable rift in United. Almost sixteen years have passed, but the Portuguese's farewell changed the fate of Manchester United. The "Red Devils" played the Champions League final in 2011, benefiting from a good schedule – the semifinal was against Schalke 04 – but that team, with that
final lost against Barça, was closing a cycle. Ferguson's departure meant there was no turning back. Without Cristiano or Ferguson, ruin.
Wavering, contradictory decisions, absence of a plan, as well as a strange ease in signing players for astronomical transfer fees and million-dollar dismissals. United needs to improve the team, find true number ones, and build a competitive model from franchise players. Ten Hag spent £600 million on signings, and now, Rubén Amorin intends to do the same. Getting it right is key for a United far from playing in the Champions League and even further from having a team to be a reference in world football.
A show. That's the only way to describe it. Ten Hag's farewell cost £10.4 million, and the signing of Rubén Amorin involved a payment of £11 million to Sporting de Portugal. The dismissal of Dan Answorth, the sporting director, cost £4 million after United paid £5 to Newcastle to release him. Saying goodbye to Richard Arnold,
CEO, cost another £5.5 million. More than £35 million in dismissals or executive signings in less than a year. Total decay.