Manchester United have made a decision two years in the making with legend David de Gea

In keeping with recent Manchester United tradition, a ruthless decision has not been handled ruthlessly.

Many supporters will scoff at the notion it is ruthless to cut David de Gea loose. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had intended on phasing him out two years ago but lacked the courage to follow through with his plan.

A week after De Gea's contract expired, and with United in advanced discussions to sign Andre Onana from Inter Milan, De Gea ended his run of cryptic tweets with a farewell message. It would have been a pity had he opted for a mere waving emoji.

United have not handled De Gea's send-off decisively or effectively. There was a shift on De Gea's position two months ago yet they still ummed and aahed. The offer of face-to-face discussions seemed like face-saving.

Also read: United optimistic of Onana deal after De Gea exit

"You deserved to say goodbye at the stadium will all the fans cheering you for all the beautiful memories," De Gea's Hale dining companion Bruno Fernandes posted on Instagram. Farewells at United are not always choreographed so smoothly. Bryan Robson, Steve Bruce, David Beckham, Jaap Stam, Roy Keane and Cristiano Ronaldo are among the greats who left under a cloud.

The club would have gained more confidence from the fanbase had they swiftly announced De Gea's departure after the season had ended. The outlook should not have altered so drastically after Ilkay Gundogan's left-footed volley trickled through De Gea's fingers.

It is a quirk of De Gea's 12-year United career that it started and ended with errors against Manchester City at Wembley. For four or five years, he was without peer among the world's goalkeepers and he was United's most important player during Louis van Gaal's staid two-year