Last season, Javier "Chicharito" Hernández found himself in the bizarre scenario of being declared superfluous and unwanted at the recently seventh-placed United, yet being fancied by Real Madrid on a loan. This summer, the out-of-favour striker at Old Trafford might not get equally lucky.
In the 40th minute of Mexico's goalless draw against Honduras, the nation's leading active goalscorer had a rather unfortunate meeting with the Honduan defender Brayan Beckeles, with the unpleasant outcome of a fractured collarbone.
This means he's due to miss the rest of the Gold Cup, and probably United's pre-season tour to the US as well. The Red Devils take on Club América on Friday 17th July in the opening game of the tour.
In other words, the Little Pea will miss several opportunities to display himself in the shopping window this summer, with the reduced amount of interest that might include.
This will come on top of the lack of opportunity to prove Louis van Gaal wrong in terms of not finding him sufficient for a part in the future plans of the Dutchman.
Repeated resurrection?
However, the tide turns quickly in football, and as an example Marouane Fellaini could be mentioned. The Belgian was basically destined for Napoli last season, with Van Gaal looking to offload the main symbol of the 2013/14 shambles at Old Trafford, but an ankle injury prevented the transfer.
With the outcome in hand, Fellaini step-by-step became a key figure of United in 2014/15, with the manager tailoring him and Juan Mata into a fluid 4-2-3-1 system.
Mata was initially placed out wide, with freedom to roam into the middle of the park, and Fellaini was handed a role where he cold approach the space where he's most useful - aerially in the box.
Jonathan Wilson of The Guardian labelled the tactics "a masterstroke" and put the term "deep-lying targetman" on the player who had been written off as an insufferable flop only a season earlier.
However, the Fellaini incident is probably not going to repeat itself with another player of the same side in the subsequent season, so there is no doubt Javier Hernández' injury comes on an inconvenient time for both club and player.