From the moment Cristiano Ronaldo shook hands with Piers Morgan at the end of their blistering TV interview, both men knew his time at Manchester United was up.
Ronaldo had tried the hissy fits and histrionics. He had staged a disappearing act after refusing to come on as a substitute against Tottenham last month.
When all that failed and manager Erik ten Hag took him back after three days on the naughty step, Ronaldo decided he had to go nuclear.
His comments about the club, the Glazers, Ten Hag and his own team-mates broke just about every rule in the book and left United with no choice but to act.