Manchester United are Manchester United again. Winning trophies, playing exciting football and on course for Champions League qualification. Yet their ability to use this summer as a stepping stone towards Premier League and European success has been compromised by a damaging combination of prolonged failure, commercial flat-lining and even their partnership with a Russian airline.
Sources at United and UEFA have told ESPN this week that the club are expecting to comply with financial fair play (FFP) regulations this year, but as recently as January, football director John Murtough went on the record to say that United were focusing on being "financially disciplined and compliant with FFP rules.