Anthony Martial was meant to be Kylian Mbappe and bring the va-va-voom back to Old Trafford after two turgid years post-Sir Alex Ferguson.
When the teenager scored a breathtaking goal on debut against Liverpool in 2015, a star was born.
Transfer supremo Ed Woodward believed he'd found the successor to Best, Cantona and Ronaldo at the Theatre of Dreams and United were duty-bound to pay a hefty bonus clause if the youngster ever became World Player of the Year. It didn't seem so far-fetched.
Fast forward three years and the picture is very different. Martial's inconsistency saw him left out of France's World Cup-winning squad as Mbappe impressively wore the crown of best young player on the planet.
Furthermore, United manager Jose Mourinho has won his argument with Woodward that Martial is dispensable at club level, with the player also desperate to leave Manchester.
'He has to give me things I like. The players have to come in my direction,' Mourinho warned Martial at the start of last season. It appears the talented forward has not listened or learned.
Back to September 13, 2015. A full house at Old Trafford gave their new mystery signing a hero's ovation when he replaced Juan Mata midway through the second half and showed why he was the world's most expensive teenager by dribbling past Liverpool at the Stretford End to seal a 3-1 victory.
'When you make a goal like Anthony did, you can't wish for more,' said manager Louis van Gaal at the final whistle.
The raised eyebrows when United splashed out £36million for the 19-year-old Monaco starlet two weeks previously were replaced by nods of appreciation.
Even the £22million in potential add-ons, dependent on what Martial won individually and for the club, made sense as his speed, balance and composure in front of goal made him look like the real deal.
Looking back, there is irony in the fact that United missed out on World Cup winner Pedro as a result of signing Martial.
While Pedro hasn't been an unqualified success at Chelsea, he does boast a Premier League winners' medal, something Martial hasn't come close to during three years at United, scoring 36 goals in 136 appearances.
Martial is currently back in England for the birth of his child while United are on pre-season tour in America. Besides family duties, there is plenty for him to contemplate.
-dailymail