Erik ten Hag is doing something no Manchester United manager since Sir Alex Ferguson has achieved

David de Gea has left Manchester United and with his exit comes an end of an era.

Though the messy way his eventual exit was handled was unfitting for a player who has served the club loyally and brilliantly for 12 years - and hopefully a testimonial will come in the future - it was ultimately the right decision. The only worrying aspect is that it took so long to make it.

Everyone knew the day Erik ten Hag was confirmed as the new United boss that De Gea would not suit his system. The Spaniard is one of the last holdouts of the older generation of goalkeepers who never had to play much with the ball at their feet or be progressive off their lines, just stop the ball from going in. But that's incompatible with the top-end of the modern game and if United are ever to win the Premier League again then they had to get with the times.

It's not to downplay the massive contributions De Gea made in some of United's bleakest years. At his peak, he was incredible, capable of breathtaking saves but he is now a goalkeeping dinosaur and the meteor has finally crashed down. The fact United even considered giving him a new deal remains a concern given they could have organised his departure months ago and have his replacement lined up but his next club will prove the point further as there's little chance he joins a Champions League side.

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De Gea's unsavoury yet timely exit has yet further significance as it means there is no longer a player at the club who played for Sir Alex Ferguson. One of the biggest issues during the decade of steady decline