COMMENT: The house is up for sale. The girlfriend is eyeing off pads in La Finca. After six years, it really does look like it's over. David de Gea is leaving Manchester United.
So now it makes sense. Phil Neville was actually right! When Sergio Romero appeared on the teamsheet at Sunderland, it wasn't because De Gea was injured or had picked up a virus. Jose Mourinho dropped his No1. Just as he'd done with Iker Casillas at Real Madrid. And upon his return to Chelsea with Petr Cech. Not for the first time, Mourinho has chosen to take on a sacred cow.
It's been lost in the blur of Real Madrid's very public pursuit, but De Gea's relationship with his manager has dramatically gone south over the past month. His axing for the win on Wearside was a culmination of disagreements and insults which had dragged on for some weeks. Mourinho confessing - in public - that he "laughed" at De Gea's slip for the stalemate with West Brom did not sit well with the Spaniard. But it was calculated observation by Mourinho. Coaching staff had expressed concern over De Gea's lacklustre form in training. The intensity had gone. Indeed, some on staff are convinced De Gea's mind is already in Madrid.
So Mourinho acted. His first approach was the public barb. Trying to get a rise - and a reaction from his No1. Instead, De Gea took it personally. He can hold a grudge, can David. He never forgave Louis van Gaal, upon the Dutchman's arrival, for trying to dump him for Keylor Navas, then of Levante. The relationship between the pair remained frosty over LVG's two years in charge.
And that's just how De Gea took Mourinho's swipe. Rather than knuckle down, he let it be known - via local media sources - he was unimpressed. But no matter who you are. No matter your status. There's no taking on Mourinho. So the axing for Sunderland was inevitable. As was the manager blanking his No1 for the first-leg of their Europa League quarterfinal against Anderlecht. Yes, it was Romero's gig. But if Mourinho had wanted to put an arm around De Gea, he would've played him in Belgium. Instead, the point was being made: no-one's indispensable here, not even you, David.
So, Mourinho will negotiate terms with good friend Florentino Perez, the Real Madrid president. And we say negotiate, because while United will insist on Real meeting De Gea's €70 million buyout clause, Mourinho knows - even at such a price - there is better business to be done.
€70 million? United has €70 million - and then some. Cash isn't a problem for Manchester United. Spending it, however, is for Mourinho. The money's there, but those players capable of improving on what he's already built are scarce. That's why this De Gea deal has to be more than simply a cash exchange.
As far as candidates to move in the opposite direction, Raphael Varane has been mentioned. As has Alvaro Morata. Both players have a relationship with Mourinho. It was the Portuguese who convinced Varane to snub United and Sir Alex Ferguson and join him at Real almost six years ago from Lens. And in Morata's case, it was actually Mourinho who gave the striker, now 24, his debut at 18 years of age.
But if he is forced to choose one over the other, it really shouldn't be a difficult decision - particularly after events on Thursday night. Zlatan Ibrahimovic's horrendous knee injury has made the choice easy for Mourinho. He needs to insist Morata is included in Florentino's offer.
A centre-forward. Strong with his back to goal. But more mobile than Ibrahimovic. Morata's arrival, significantly, wouldn't present any type of threat to Marcus Rashford nor Anthony Martial. Bar Ibrahimovic, there is no player on United's books, even down to the U18s, in the guise of Morata. And that would be the selling point for Mourinho - especially if United face another year out of the Champions League. After a season coming off the bench at Real, Morata would find the opposite at United. He'll be it. The one genuine centre-forward available to a manager who's entire playing system depends on such an attacking option.
However, as easy as it is to put such a proposal down on paper, the reality is that losing Morata will be a body blow to Florentino. Not only a homegrown player - but a striker. And one to lead the line for Spain for the next two - perhaps three - World Cups. It was to be all achieved in a Los Merengues shirt. For Florentino, that was the plan.
Publicly. In PR terms. Losing De Gea will hurt United. But on a personal level, it'll be some sacrifice for Florentino allowing Morata to go the opposite way. However, there'll be no losers in this one. Florentino, after two years of trying, gets his new Iker Casillas. "It's only right that Spain's goalkeeper is provided by Real Madrid," a boardroom source told this column 12 months ago. And that's always been the attitude of Florentino in his dogged pursuit. Yeah, he's getting arguably the best keeper in the world. But more significantly, Spain's No1 will also be Real's No1. Such symbols matter to the Real president.
In United's case. For Mourinho. They get one of the best young centre-forwards in the game - plus a bit of throw around money to boot. €100 million for Romelu Lukaku at Everton? Or the same for Torino's Il Gallo, Andrea Belotti?
For United, getting Morata's signature inside the De Gea transaction is simply good business.
INJURY TIME
So who to replace David de Gea at Manchester United?
Jan Oblak is being mentioned in the Sunday press. And it's a deal which would make sense. With former Atletico Madrid goalkeeper coach Emilio Alvarez now part of Jose Mourinho's staff, the transition from Spain to England would be smooth.
But there were some interesting observers at Old Trafford for Thursday's victory over Anderlecht. It's significant that in the week De Gea's home goes up for sale, his agent, Jorge Mendes, was in Manchester. Mendes was spotted at Old Trafford for the Europa League tie.
And nearby was United legend Peter Schmeichel, sitting alongside son, Kasper. Mourinho likes his keepers to be loud. Charismatic. To be leaders. Generals. Just like the Leicester City title winner.
Could we again see the Schmeichel name across the back of United's No1 shirt next season?
Source: tribalfootball.com