COMMENT: He's no player. But rolling out the red carpet for this man can transform Manchester United next season. And no, we're not talking about Jose Mourinho...
The Mourinho news is massive for United. Transformative. But behind the scenes, the willingness of United to again do business with Mino Raiola is significant.
In Sweden, they say the deal is close. In Holland, where Raiola really launched his management business, they're convinced it's all but done. Zlatan Ibrahimovic, currently of PSG, will join Mourinho at Manchester United next season.
As dramatic and exciting as this is for United fans, it could just be a precursor to the main event: the Old Trafford return of Paul Pogba.
Raiola hasn't placed a player at United since ferrying Pogba away to Juventus. On orders from Sir Alex Ferguson, they've blanked him. For four years, United officials refused to take Raiola's calls. But today, it's all change. Mourinho is in charge. Anything and everything is possible. Including the return of Pogba.
Of course, it sounds fanciful. But this is Mourinho.
At Chelsea, he beat Sir Alex Ferguson to the signing of Eden Hazard. At Real Madrid, he did the same regarding Raphael Varane. And now, he'll actually be behind the desk at Carrington. For Pogba. Indeed, for any top shelf talent, signing for Manchester United is one thing. But signing for United to play for Mourinho? Well, that's an altogether different prospect.
And that's what Mourinho will bring back to United: Making the dreams of fans a reality. It's a culture that Louis van Gaal just refused to grasp.
The greatest moment of Van Gaal's tenure wasn't Saturday at Wembley. Beating Crystal Palace will quickly fade into memory.
What will live with United fans will be that sunny day in February. When Old Trafford and Van Gaal, for the one game in his United career, were unified. A patched-up home XI put Arsenal to the sword. A kid on his Premier League debut scored twice. The manager stunned the watching world with his appearance on the touchline. His 'judo fall'. And an inspired home crowd roaring his kids to victory. It was the stuff of legend. Something those lucky enough to witness it will never forget.
It could've been the turning point. How did Van Gaal miss it? How could he not have recognised the need of Premier League fans to see their manager prowling the touchline? To feel he's one with them? It's staggering that Van Gaal went back to his seat and his clipboard after such a memorable day. But he did and now he's gone.
Mourinho has his critics, but at games you'll find the vast majority of them behind the glass. Chelsea fans loved him. They still do. For all the moaning from the media, the opinion that really matters is what comes from the terraces. And the support for the manager, even weeks after Chelsea had sacked him, speaks volumes.
In a dismal campaign, the most symbolic moment of Mourinho's tenure last season came against Jurgen Klopp's Liverpool. It was a famous victory for Klopp - and included a touchline row with a member of Mourinho's staff.
Jose Morais, fed-up with Klopp's constant badgering of the fourth official, stood up from his seat and fired a volley at the German. Klopp refused to back down and the pair traded insults. For all the accusations leveled at Mourinho, it wasn't he or his staff who downed tools last season. They kept fighting for the club, right to the end...
And from day one, this is what United fans will get from Mourinho. There'll be no more need for second guessing. He'll be happy to be seen. To use the crowd as a weapon. That day in February will be no one-off. Under Mourinho, he'll be determined to make it the norm.
And he'll fight for the club. As will his staff. And they'll be happy to be seen doing so. The Old Trafford crowd will be inspired. The talk of a 'fortress' will actually mean something. The intimidation factor will return. The manager will live off the energy of the fans - and vice-versa.
Mourinho is back. The Theatre of Dreams can again live up to its name. Ibrahimovic... Pogba... Anything and everything is possible.