Maybe the most telling words in the Manchester United statement that confirmed Cristiano Ronaldo has been banished from the first-team squad for the rest of this week actually came towards the end.
The 37-year-old forward won't be part of the squad to face Chelsea on Saturday and he won't be involved in the preparations for the trip to Stamford Bridge. His petulant actions on Wednesday night have been dealt with by Erik ten Hag, a display of power and ruthlessness that felt just as decisive as the performance against Tottenham the previous evening.
But after confirming Ronaldo's punishment, a decision taken solely by Ten Hag and backed by the club, United added an extra line. "The rest of the squad is fully focused on preparing for that fixture," they said.
READ MORE: United drop Ronaldo from squad to face Chelsea
It felt like something of a rebuke. Ronaldo had done his best to take the spotlight away from United's victory against Tottenham, but his celebrating teammates hardly noticed his absence in the dressing room on Wednesday night and their focus is on the fourth win against a big-six rival this season, rather than the circus that their best-paid player is trying to create.
Ronaldo made his intention to leave the club in the summer clear, but his biggest obstacle wasn't United, but the fact no Champions League suitor wanted him. He's essentially now the third-choice striker behind Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial. Anybody who watched United's stunted performance against Newcastle with Ronaldo, and their electrifying performance without him against Tottenham, could not possibly conclude he should be in this team.
For the rest of this week, Ronaldo will train away from the first-team squad, who are preparing for the Chelsea game and a chance to build on a statement performance. After that comes attempts at integration, but it has to be a question of whether it is even worth it.
This was Ten Hag's best 24 hours as United manager. The most complete performance of his tenure so far and then a disciplinary decision that was his alone and sent out a message to the rest of the squad. Chief executive Richard Arnold and football director John Murtough backed him in what could have been a politically tricky call given Ronaldo's standing in the game.
The transfer window showed the power Ten Hag had at the club but this has built on it. On Thursday night United were attempting to reinforce the idea that Ronaldo remains an important part of the squad, but the fracture in the relationship between player and manager is going to be difficult to repair.
After the weekend there are six games to go until the World Cup. Ronaldo will be a substitute at best for the four Premier League games. Perhaps there are appearances to be had against Sheriff Tiraspol in the Europa League and Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup, but after Wednesday night there has to be a question as to whether he would want to be involved in those games.
If Wednesday night felt the end was coming into view, Ten Hag's decision on Thursday made it seem almost inevitable. United must be desperately hoping that he musters up a good World Cup and someone comes in in January to end this mess.
It would certainly make Ten Hag's life easier. This was another example of life inside the goldfish bowl that can be Manchester United, when things rarely run smoothly. From the euphoria of 10pm on Wednesday to a showdown with the club's best-paid player the following morning, it was a crash course in navigating the choppy waters of a club that's become too accustomed to chaos.
On the pitch on Wednesday there was intensity, aggression, unity and no little quality. On the evidence of this season, Ronaldo would add nothing to that team.
If no serious offer arrives in January, then Ten Hag might just have the power to try and bring an end to the circus and convince United to free Ronaldo from his contract. Thirteen months on from an iconic homecoming, this is a relationship that looks irrevocably broken.
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