sport news Manchester United new owners will be upgrade on toxic Glazers trends now
Only at Manchester United could the news that arguably the club's greatest-ever player leaving with immediate effect be gazumped just a few hours later by the 'for sale' signs going up at Old Trafford.
Even by United's standards, Tuesday evening was quite spectacular. At 5.30pm, the club issued a statement confirming that Cristiano Ronaldo had left by mutual consent in the wake of his TV interview with Piers Morgan.
At 9.30pm, another statement from United revealed that the Glazer family are exploring 'strategic alternatives' and may be ready to sell up after 17 years in power.
The Glazers have never been popular as Manchester United owners and the majority of fans would be delighted to see the back of them if a sale does go through
Supporter protests have been growing in ferocity to try and force the hated Americans out
Seasoned observers of United are used to big stories breaking at any time, but this was something else.
If the Glazers follow Ronaldo out of the Old Trafford exit, which now seems to be increasingly likely, what will they leave behind?
There is little doubt the vast majority of United's fanbase around the world would be delighted to see the back of them.
The American owners started out on the wrong foot with their leveraged £790million takeover of United in 2005, and didn't do a whole lot right after that in the eyes of supporters.
Trying to defend them is a rather thankless task in these parts, even when it's pointed out that they have outspent most of their rivals with well over £1billion paid out for players over the last 17 years.
No, the Glazers are toxic and nothing would ever change that at United. The takeover, the debt, the dividends, the state of the stadium and the lack of success mean there never will be any way back.
Despite over £1billion invested in new players, United remain well short of Manchester City
Liverpool have also been superior to United on the field for much of the past decade
Anti-Glazer sentiment has reached unprecedented levels since the collapse of the European Super League in April last year with demonstrations inside and outside Old Trafford, even when the team are winning.
Songs about cutting up chairman Joel Glazer 'from head to toe' are commonplace.
None of which bothers the owners, of course. They're too far away to notice or care. It isn't their homes being menaced by protesters who managed to seek out executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward and his successor Richard Arnold.
For the Glazers, it will always be about money. If they sell United, it's because they want to, not because they are being forced to.
The £4.25billion sale of Chelsea and a rather pessimistic economic climate in the UK has suddenly made selling up sound like a very good idea. United's owners, like the Fenway Sports Group at Liverpool, have been tempted to test the market.
Old Trafford itself is showing signs of age and a decision will have to be taken on a revamp
United's training complex at Carrington has also fallen behind facilities at rival clubs
No-one at Old Trafford would be sad to see them go and that is the starting point for any new owners.
Just about anyone would be seen as an improvement on the current regime as long as they are prepared to make United debt-free and inject the kind of money needed to take the club back to the top.
Old Trafford, a cathedral of English football, is in dire need of a facelift.
United have appointed master planners to assess the feasibility of improving the current stadium, knocking it down and starting again, or moving elsewhere.
The suspicion is that the Glazers would favour the cheaper first option, but there will be no easy solution.
United's Carrington training base, once lauded by Sir Alex Ferguson as best in class, has now fallen behind others in the Premier League. It isn't just the dodgy tiles in the swimming pool, mentioned by Ronaldo, that need sorting out.
Sir Alex Ferguson signed off with a 13th Premier League title win in 2013 - but United have regressed in the years since
Millions more needs to be spent on upgrading Carrington, and plans that have been drawn up include the possibility of a club hotel on site for the players.
On the pitch, United are actually in the best shape they have been for some time. In Erik ten Hag, the club have appointed a progressive new manager who has already made a significant impact.
A lot of dead wood was cleared out in the summer and it's fair to say that all the new signings made by Ten Hag – Lisandro Martinez, Christian Eriksen, Casemiro, Antony and Tyrell Malacia – have improved the team.
Arguably, the only thing holding United back has been the circus surrounding Ronaldo, and that left town on Tuesday night.
One area where the new owners must learn from the Glazers' mistakes is building a better relationship with fans.
Cristiano Ronaldo has left town, removing one obstacle to United's forward progress
United seem to be making progress again under the uncompromising boss Erik ten Hag
Joel Glazer
