‘I was astounded, genuinely astounded. An outstanding footballer, an outstanding person. He is a gift to any football club.’
The rhetorical question for Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish last September was: why had Eberechi Eze not been prised away from Selhurst Park?
Parish was pleased but perplexed. He has never shied away from the reality that, despite their own ambitions, Palace are a stepping stone to elite clubs. Michael Olise’s sale to Bayern Munich was a case in point.
On the back of a strong finish to last season and a European Championship with England, many expected Eze to follow suit.