“I know what I want my future to look like,” he said. “I’ve learned a lot in the past four months. I know what’s necessary for the club and team. But it’s crucial that we’re all aligned. I’m waiting for that conversation to happen.”

“It’s important to make a good evaluation,” he added. “You have to be on the same page to move forward. That’s what’s important. And that’s what we have to find out.”

Van Nistelrooy isn’t one to share his thoughts before the big chat. “It’s important to have those conversations internally,” he said. “But I won’t share this before they take place.”

When asked for more details, Van Nistelrooy was clear. “It’s important to maintain the person you are,” he said. “I have standards that I think a football club should live by - and I’m sticking to that, no matter what happens.”

“That’s a challenge when results aren’t going your way,” he admitted. “But I will stick to my beliefs - and I will do so to the end.”