Report: Van Gaal learned of firing Sunday, asked club to delay news

At exactly 8:31 p.m. British Summer Time on Monday, Manchester United, at long last, officially parted ways with Louis van Gaal, announcing that he is to leave the club with immediate effect.

However, Van Gaal reportedly found out that his time at Old Trafford was up one day earlier.

Related: Manchester United sacks Van Gaal as Mourinho prepares to take over

Ed Woodward went to see Van Gaal at the Dutch manager's home in Bowdon, England on Sunday, according to James Ducker of The Telegraph. There, the executive vice-chairman reportedly told the 64-year-old he was being sacked by United, resulting in the latter asking the club to delay releasing the news.

Van Gaal was apparently on a flight to Portugal when United finally put him out of his misery.

With Van Gaal out of the picture at United, the road to Old Trafford is paved for Jose Mourinho. According to BBC Sport's Simon Stone and Dan Roan, Mourinho's expected to be named Red Devils manager on Tuesday after he meets with the club's senior officials.