It was August last year when Enzo Maresca told a 20-year-old Andrey Santos the route to the top and why - for now - it did not run through Chelsea.
Santos, Maresca said to him, had huge potential, but needed more minutes and playing time. He was off to Strasbourg for a year to play for Chelsea's sister club and evolve as a footballer.
The advice, prompted the best season of the attacking midfielder's life - 11 goals in 34 matches - and at the end of it a recall to the Brazil senior squad.