TANGUY NDOMBELE is Tottenham's biggest-ever signing — but five years ago he was too big to be signed.
In 2014, the £65million midfielder's career looked to have crashed and burned after he was released by Guingamp aged 17 for carrying too much timber.
But this week Ndombele, 22, etched his name into Spurs' history books after Daniel Levy paid Lyon a club-record fee for the midfielder.
Since then, the references have been glowing.
It is his strength on the ball that catches the eye, his explosive pace, positioning and ability to open up an opposition's defence.
And yet in 2014, the France international thought his dreams of becoming a footballer were dashed after being released by Guingamp.
The French club recognised his talent but said his attitude and weight were wrong.
NDOMBELLY
Lionel Rouxel, then manager of the reserves, told L'Equipe: "It wasn't a case of his potential being questioned, and he had a good mentality — respectful — but he seemed to be lacking the awareness to reach a high level.
"He had a hard time waking up in the morning, he was overweight, and didn't always present himself seriously.
"We were kind to him, we were tough, but in the end we felt we'd given him a chance."
His captain Sullivan Martinet said expectation was higher than reality.
He said: "He was nonchalant. He was so strong that we were expecting more from him, more consistency.
"He didn't try maybe as much. He didn't give the impression of always being 100 percent.
"With hindsight, what harmed him was his behaviour off the pitch. We were less talented but we wanted it more than him."
Ndombele was offered a lifeline by Amiens in northern France.
His manager Patrice Descamps recalled how the step down in class caused Ndombele to feel down.
Descamps said: "He was full of negative emotions caused by a gap between what he was hoping for and reality.
AMIABLE AMIENS
"He had to overcome this dark period, to forge a new mindset and a degree of willingness to learn that he had lost."
But it was his upbringing, raised by deeply religious Congolese parents in a rough suburb of Paris, that helped Ndombele persevere.
After two seasons in the reserves, he broke into the first-team and quickly established himself as a talent.
Having helped lead Amiens to promotion into Ligue 1, French giants Lyon came calling.
They took him on loan in 2017 with an option to make the deal permanent - which was quickly taken.
And the rest of Europe quickly learned what a talent Ndombele was in last season's Champions League.
At the Etihad Stadium in September last year, Ndombele was integral to Lyon's shock victory over Man City.
The Frenchman showed an expertise in midfield against Pep Guardiola's usually dominant force.
But it is here where Ndombele can be a frustration for coaches.
While former Lyon coach Bruno Genesio said Ndombele can be "a new Paul Pogba", he also questioned his consistency.
Why, Genesio wondered, was Ndombele capable of putting in the performance of a world-beater against City but went missing against lesser opposition?
It is a question Pochettino will hope he never has to ask.
Instead, the Argentine feels he has finally found his replacement for Dembele who he can mould into a superstar.
The flying Frenchman's career looks set to take off again.