Once a dream for every player in the past, donning the Manchester United jersey is no longer appealing.

At his peak, Casemiro was arguably the best defensive midfielder in the world, having played at a masterful level for a long time in the colors of Real Madrid, helping the Spanish giants clinch 5 Champions League titles, including three consecutive triumphs in 2016, 2017, and 2018.

But just under two years after leaving the world’s biggest club, he has been reduced to a pitiful figure in a team that is merely a shadow of its past glory. The Brazilian player was rated 1 out of 10 in Manchester United’s recent 0-4 defeat to Crystal Palace.

There’s another case. Just 11 months ago, Andre Onana was still the number one goalkeeper in Inter Milan’s lineup that reached the Champions League final for the sixth time in history. Now, he also seems weary due to the Red Devils’ relentless and seemingly hopeless plight.

Man United is unable to find a way out in the chaos of too many problems.

The final figure mentioned is none other than Erik ten Hag, the coach once admired worldwide for leading Aja Amsterdam to surpass several giants and reach the Champions League semi-finals in the 2018/19 season. Now, however, the threat of dismissal awaits him at the end of this season.

Needless to say, Manchester United legends like Gary Neville and Paul Scholes have consistently expressed their embarrassment over the club’s performance against Palace. Even Michael Owen, who was only associated with the Red Devils in the final years of his career, is calling for Ten Hag’s dismissal.

The way Manchester United has operated in recent years is not the way they used to. The club, known for its astute and precise transfer market dealings, now seems willing to spend up to £85 million just to acquire flashy but ultimately lacking players like Antony.

Ten Hag did not leave a mark on Man United’s tactics

Once a dream destination for top stars, Old Trafford now has no attraction.

This is also not the collective that turned Old Trafford into “Theatre of Dreams.” The infrastructure of this club has deteriorated, with a stadium of second-rate quality and training grounds in serious disrepair. Perhaps what Cristiano Ronaldo shared upon leaving Man United for the second time was indeed true.

For many years, there has been no sign of effort from Manchester United’s leadership to escape the shadow of past glory. They have accepted dismal results season after season, like an aging body living out its final days.

There is much work to be done for billionaire Jim Ratcliffe and his associates, if not to say they must invest in rebuilding entirely. Because there is a bitter truth that even the name “Manchester United” no longer carries great value to stars or the best coaches. Let’s accept reality and swiftly get to work, or else this club will become a second-tier team in England.