Just as Joe Biden didn’t see the Taliban coming, Manchester United could not, in their worst nightmares, have imagined that Cristiano Ronaldo could end up at City.
It hasn’t happened yet and, unlike events in Afghanistan, probably won’t, but intelligence reports suggest it’s a possibility.
CR7’s perceived disgruntlement with the regime at Juventus is one reason. And chief warlord, club president Gianni Agnelli, has changed sides.
One minute, head of the European Clubs Association, the next backing the rebel European Super League. And he still hasn’t surrendered!
The Portuguese superstar must have wondered what competition he would be playing in.
Now 36, he’s not getting any younger and is tired of being asked to carry the team, score all the goals and then not win a trophy.
Last year, not even Serie A, let alone the Champions League.
He’d love to win Old Big Ears for a sixth time to give him a cushion over Lionel Messi who has four but is still counting.
He won the Italian title in his first two seasons, but since then Juve have gone backwards, leaving it until the final day of last season to ensure a top four place.
There’s no money for new players because they’re paying him most of what they have.
And Messi now seems to have a good chance of adding another with the World XI he has joined at PSG.
In fact, Messi has been hogging all the headlines.
It seems every mention of his great rival’s move to Paris called him the world’s greatest player. “What about me?” he seethed under his aqua-fresh breath.
Messi being top dog was written as fact, not opinion. There seemed no doubt about it. And of all time, too.
According to much of the world media, Messi was not just No 1 but the Only One.
Clearly, these reporters need to be reminded of CR7’s presence.
A headline grabbing move to a bigger club for an Indian summer might just do the trick.
Speculation arose when City’s long-anticipated move for Harry Kane appeared to stall.
Spurs have refused City’s increased offer of £125 million and with the August 31 transfer deadline drawing near, the world wonders if City have Plan B.
On the evidence of their 1-0 defeat to Spurs, of all people, last weekend, they need one like Biden needed an exit strategy.
But a quick glance around the leading strikers in Europe and the top shelf of the cupboard looks bare.
Romelu Lukaku has gone to Chelsea. Robert Lewandowski is happy at Bayern where his contract has two more years to run.
Erling Braut Haaland appears to be staying at Borussia Dortmund until next year when his release clause cuts his price to £65m.
Then, the rumour mill had it that Ronaldo had been offered to City. Allegedly because cash-strapped Juve are desperate to get his £25m a year off their wage bill.
PSG were also linked with a fanciful move to pair him with Messi. Never mind the combined age of 70, think of the excitement.
It was enough for Ronaldo to put out a 286-word statement that would have done a politician proud: it raised more questions than it answered. But he did not rule it out.
Surely, this should have been enough for United to send for their greatest manager and negotiator, Alex Ferguson, who was a father figure to the Portuguese as a youngster at Old Trafford.
United are thought to have looked at a possible return of their prodigal son when he left Real Madrid but it didn’t work out.
But now, the prospect, however remote, of him donning the light blue of the noisy neighbours surely changes things.
Of course, whether Pep Guardiola would want him casts doubt on the move.
The Catalan is not one to tolerate loiterers and Ronaldo, for all his killer instinct in front of goal, has become one.
Never the keenest at tracking back, he doesn’t even pretend any more yet could still be worth his weight in goals.
But Guardiola took a while to be convinced of Sergio Aguero’s worth and then let him go perhaps prematurely.
Acquiring Ronaldo would be replacing a reluctant presser with one who doesn’t even bother.
And given his legendary status on the other side of town, would he want to tarnish it by joining City?
If so, you feel he would win them the title and maybe even the elusive Holy Grail of the Champions League.
And he would create a buzz about the club that might even fill the Empty-had.
They missed out on Messi but what better way to make up than getting Ronaldo?
Fergie will be desperately hoping they don’t and what better way to ensure that than signing him yourselves?
United could still use him and with Jadon Sancho on board and Paul Pogba suggesting the dormant volcano is finally smouldering, he would score for fun.
In the end, Spurs chairman Daniel Levy may decide to cut his losses – it has been lose-lose in the PR battle all the way – and take the £125m gain. And Ronaldo may stay at Juve.
But the club may wish to cash in on him now as he’ll be a free agent at the end of next season.
And if there’s a hint he fancies a golden twilight elsewhere, one of the three clubs who can afford his wages – City, United and PSG – should surely make a move.
And if they don’t get Kane, it will be City who need him most. He’d be a lot cheaper, too.
The views expressed are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect those of FMT.