When Manchester United drew 1-1 with Everton in October, it took Cristiano Ronaldo just 15 seconds to leave the pitch.
Ronaldo looked dejected, angry and deceived. The forward sealed a return to United on deadline day to win trophies. It was supposed to be a fairytale return. It was turning into a nightmare instead. United had lost against Aston Villa at Old Trafford one week before that game and here they were, dropping points yet again. Ronaldo knew that wasn't the form of Premier League champions.
Andros Townsend tried to speak to Ronaldo as he stormed off the pitch, but his words didn't matter. There is nothing you can say to a man that is meeting mediocrity for the first time in his career. Ronaldo is synonymous with winning and he was left on the bench by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer as his team struggled against Everton, who have won just one game since playing United at Old Trafford.
Ronaldo was unable to change the game when Solskjaer brought him on from the bench as the script was already written, but he gave it a box-office ending by storming down the tunnel. His reaction was a statement and it was more than understandable.
Some questioned Ronaldo's reaction after Everton, however, it was hard not to sympathise with the forward. In the final years of his career, he dreamed of winning the Premier League title again and it was purely a raw expression of his frustration at the result.
While football has a complex problem with romanticism, the signing of Ronaldo has been the success story of the season. It is hard to imagine where the club would be without him this term, but those with the most power still need to be held accountable.
Ronaldo is no exception to that rule. Gary Neville spoke out against Ronaldo and Fernandes' body language at St.James' Park and he deserves credit for going somewhere others wouldn't. Both players were poor and neither are exempt from criticism.
Ronaldo, Marcus Rashford and Nemanja Matic all walked straight down the tunnel on Monday night after the full-time whistle without applauding the fans and that isn't acceptable, however, it's actually not the first time that's happened this season.
It was understandable when Ronaldo stormed down the tunnel against Everton. It wasn't against Chelsea or Newcastle, or every other week for that matter. Ronaldo was anonymous against Newcastle and the least he could do was applaud the supporters.
The away contingent that travelled to the North East just after Christmas deserved better and it also sets a dangerous precedent.
United's players naturally look up to Ronaldo and his petulance at the end of games has set an awful example. His actions have shown that it's OK to walk down the tunnel without addressing the fans and that's likely why Rashford and Matic followed suit on Monday.
Neville also admitted he was concerned the younger members of the dressing room aren't getting the support they need. He was right to question how they'll feel when one of the game's greatest ever players is looking at them as if they're not good enough.
Ronaldo has nothing to prove. His record speaks for itself and his goals have proved instrumental this term, but it's just arrogance not to address the fans that pined for your return and that turn out in their droves to support you, whatever the circumstances.
Ronaldo will continue to do his talking on the pitch, but he'll also be judged for his actions after the final whistle.
He needs to do better.
