Erling Haaland transfer to Man City has shown Ed Woodward is still hurting Manchester United

Ed Woodward stepped down from his position as executive vice-chairman of Manchester United in February.

Woodward spent 16 years at Old Trafford and there can be no objections to stating his premiership as executive vice-chairman - that role made him the most powerful figure at the club that wasn't a member of the Glazer family - was a colossus disaster.

It was little wonder the Bristol University graduate's exit was celebrated earlier this year. Woodward's exit was symbolic, but supporters were sent a painful reminder of the reality of his tenure on Tuesday afternoon when Manchester City announced the signing of Erling Haaland for just £51million for Borussia Dortmund. It showed Woodward's mistakes are still haunting United.

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There have been 98 days since Woodward left the club yet Haaland's arrival at the Etihad proved it will take years to undo his extensive failings. Woodward became United's kingmaker in 2013 and United won just three trophies during his tenure.

United hopelessly meandered under Woodward and the club is now unrecognisable. The standards at United have drifted towards the abyss. United have just equalled their longest trophy drought for 40 years this term and that's a consequence of Woodward's incompetence. The Glazers and Woodward have degraded what it means to be Manchester United over the last decade.

Woodward was handsomely paid as United's executive vice-chairman - the club grew comfortable with mediocrity under his watch - and he might have been strolling around a golf course on Tuesday when the news of City's bargain deal for Haaland broke.

Woodward wouldn't have blinked at that announcement, but ordinary United supporters would