When UEFA's technical observer panel assessed Manchester United's fortunate draw with Atletico Madrid back in February of last year it didn't take them long to settle on Joao Felix as the man of the match.
"He scored a fantastic goal, he worked hard and he showed a lot of quality," was the succinct appraisal of Felix's performance for Diego Simeone's side.
It was the second of a run of nine successive starts for Felix in the Atleti side, a spell that produced nine goals and a string of influential performances, but it was only ever likely to be a temporary solution.
On that night at the Wanda Metropolitano, Felix had five of Atletico's 13 shots at the United goal and he was a constant threat to the defence of Ralf Rangnick's side. In the Old Trafford return leg he had just one shot but created more chances than any of his teammates.
He was a thorn in the side of Erik ten Hag, too, back at the end of July, scoring an excellent goal to win a pre-season friendly in Oslo, but it counted for little for the Portuguese forward.
He's started just six La Liga games this season and 13 of his teammates have played more than his 578 minutes in the competition. That's despite a return of four goals and three assists in that time, which works out as 1.09 goals or assists per 90 minutes. For a player who has been peripheral that is an excellent record.
He's now started just two of Atletico's last 13 games in all competitions and a month ago Miguel Angel Gil Marin, the club's chief executive, admitted the relationship between player and manager wasn't good and a departure was likely.
"I believe he is a top, world-class player, but for reasons it is not worth getting into now, the relationship between him and the ‘mister’ is not good, nor is his motivation," he said.
"The reasonable thing is to think he will leave. Although I would love him to stay, that is not the player’s idea."
Felix always looked like a strange signing for Atletico. The list of forwards that Simeone has now attempted to build a more attacking side around is plentiful, but he just cannot shake his defensive ways. They spent £113million on Felix after 20 goals in 43 games for Benfica but will get nowhere near that now.
A loan move this month looks the most likely eventuality and not only is the Premier League where the cash is, but there are big teams who need a forward. Chelsea still need a striker, Arsenal need a replacement for Gabriel Jesus and Ten Hag has made no secret of his desire to strengthen his attack.
United will be operating in the loan market this month but for now Atletico's demands for letting Felix leave temporarily are too high. He's almost certainly going to the best attainable option this month, however.
The 23-year-old is a flexible attacker rather than an out-and-out No. 9, but that might fit Ten Hag's approach and he does at least tend to play through the middle. It shouldn't take Felix long to establish a relationship with international teammate Bruno Fernandes.
The fact Atletico have made little attempt to keep secret Felix's difficult relationship with Simeone and his desire to leave suggests they will have to do a deal at some point in this window. The longer January goes on, the more they might be open to negotiation on the terms of a loan exit. That could play into the hands of United, or any other potential suitors.
It certainly feels like Felix is one of the few players who fit the "sporting and financial" criteria United have talked about this month, with the budget stretched by the £225million they spent in the summer window.
As the new year began and the transfer window opened, Ten Hag again spoke of the balance United would have to strike to strengthen in January.
"I think we have a good team when all the players are available," Ten Hag said. "But with many games coming up, I think there is a need.
"But you need one who can have an impact, otherwise you are just burning money and you don’t strengthen the squad and it doesn’t help you."
A player of Felix's talents could surely have an impact and in Ten Hag he would have a coach more suited to his skillsets than Simeone. United would certainly have first-hand experience of what they were getting.