Eagle-eyed Manchester United fans spotted Bruno Fernandes' touching gesture to Michael Carrick moments before he called time on his spell at the club.
Caretaker boss Carrick ended his 15-year stint at Old Trafford after Thursday night's 3-2 win over Arsenal.
Carrick had been first team coach under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, but took charge when the Norwegian was sacked.
And despite putting on an impressive show with wins over Villarreal and Arsenal, as well as a draw at Chelsea, he is set to be replaced by Ralf Rangnick on Friday for the rest of the season.
Carrick claimed that he only told the United players after the match that this would be his last.
"I told the players just now - it’s a little bit emotional in the changing room. I held it together, just about!" he told Amazon Prime. "It’s not been easy to keep quiet about it for the last few days but I had a job to do.
"I’m not the important one here, and I was desperate to win the game for the players and the fans. It was a big night for us."
However, plenty of fans on social media noticed that Fernandes darted straight towards Carrick at full-time to give him a hug, sensing that the departure may have already been discussed.
Was Carrick right to leave Man Utd at this stage? Comment down below
Fernandes claimed after the match that he thinks Carrick could make it as a manager one day.
"I’ve said to him I was really mad to be off on his first game and I tell him now at the end of this game," said the Portuguese.
"But honestly for me Michael can be a really good manager in the future if he gets that chance.
"He knows how to speak, he knows a lot of football. He was one of the great players that not a lot of people talk about. For what I have seen he can be a top coach."
It appears that the man himself is not entirely sure if he will return to the dugout, at least not in the near future.
When asked if he will be back in a job soon, Carrick replied: "I can honestly say that I’ve given it no thought, I don’t even know what I’m doing tomorrow!
"It’s going to be strange tomorrow taking the kids to school and see what’s next, but I’ve been so wrapped up and enjoying whatever happens next, happens next."
