When Manchester United wrapped up the signing of Jadon Sancho in July 2021, the mood among the Old Trafford hierarchy was self-congratulatory.
Not only had they acquired one of world football's most promising talents, United had won a game of poker with Borussia Dortmund by paying only £73million for the England winger.
That was a saving of £30m on the German club's asking price for Sancho 12 months earlier, an eye-watering sum United had balked at.
The 21-year-old had in the interim enjoyed an astonishing season in Germany, scoring 16 goals and supplying 20 assists, cementing his regular place in Gareth Southgate's England team.