Casemiro remains the midfielder that Manchester United have longed for and yet the narrative either side of his high-profile move from Real Madrid has been surprising at best and baffling if honest.
But will the Brazil destroyer finally be unleashed in the blood and thunder of a Manchester derby? Having initially set their sights on Declan Rice, despite fears of his valuation, United switched focus to Frenkie de Jong when Erik ten Hag was appointed.
However, the Dutchman remains at Barcelona after what was an at times garishly public chase for his signature. De Jong would have improved United, no doubt, but their porous defence and fragile protection from the engine room (pre-Ten Hag) threw up even bigger question marks.
United needed someone to prevent opposition attacks as much as start their own. By hook or crook, they got both. READ MORE: Ronaldo has sent wake-up call Eyebrows were raised when Ten Hag took the plunge to sign Christian Eriksen on a free.