While Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid negotiated the transfer of Edinson Cavani in January, Paco Alcacer was one of the other strikers linked with a move to the Wanda Metropolitano.
The Spaniard was knowingly looking for a way out of Borussia Dortmund and, before ultimately joining Villarreal, he was offered to Atletico by his agents.
Diego Simeone and his coaching staff never saw Alcacer as an option to bolster Los Rojiblancos' attacking options and now they might be regretting it.
The 26-year-old beat Jan Oblak with a terrific hit from the edge of the area to give Villarreal the lead at the Wanda Metropolitano on Sunday night.
This was Alcacer's second goal against Atletico having netted for Valencia against them in the 2015/16 season.