For Donny van de Beek the expectation and the reality of English football and life at Manchester United could not have been further apart.
His performances at the Johan Cruyff Arena convinced the Red Devils to part with £40m to acquire his services from Ajax. The question now, over 18 months on, is just whose signed off on that deal. A debut goal against Crystal Palace did little to further his case.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer had recruited Bruno Fernandes just six months earlier and the Portuguese star had become the club's talisman in the No 10 role. Van de Beek showed his versatility in Holland, but arguably his best position was taken by United's go to man.
It immediately became apparent that Van de Beek was Fernandes' understudy, at best, with opportunities few and far between. This term he'd failed to start a single Premier League game, with his frustrations boiling over in the clash with Villarreal. Now though the Dutchman may have a route back in - Erik ten Hag.
It was under the 52-year-old at Ajax that Van de Beek initially excelled. Playing in a variety of roles at the Dutch side made the last four of the Champions League in 2019. The United outcast scored goals at Juventus and Tottenham, both of which highlighted his composure in front of goal.
A lack of minutes at United has seen him head out to Everton on loan. A return in the summer could herald a new beginning, with Ten Hag known to be a fan. The 25-year-old has also proven himself in a Ten Hag system and could go from regularly overlooked to a guaranteed starter.
Ten Hag has made his feelings clear on Van de Beek's lack of opportunity, having seen first-hand what he can do. Back in January, when he was merely being linked with the role in Manchester, he claimed it was a "sin" that his former player hadn't been given a chance at Old Trafford. He told de Volkskrant: "Donny, I find that hard. [It's a] mortal sin. If you haven't had a chance yet, then development will also stall. Every now and then you encourage them."
Following Van de Beek's Ajax exit his former boss also confessed: “He is an absolute key player for us, a very modern midfielder with lots of depth in his play. It’s clear that we will miss him a lot once he’s gone.” Ten Hag's imminent arrival at Old Trafford will almost certainly hand Van de Beek a second chance.
An overhaul is expected to take place on the red half of Manchester and Van de Beek will certainly be keen to avoid the chop. Already the Everton loanee is being bombarded for information by concerned teammates. Ten Hag's arrival is set to bring with it a huge culture shift as the highly-rated boss seeks to end the club's trophy drought.
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A United source said: "The players have been asking Donny about Ten Hag because he's played under him before. He told them his training sessions are on a different level to what they've been used to and they'll have to run like they've never run before.
"Donny told them he's really intense, a perfectionist, who does one-on-one training himself with the players. He controls every aspect of his players, including their diets. The basic message was he's not one to cross - it sounds like one strike and you're out."
It certainly could be a case of last chance saloon however. The player himself will state that a lack of consistent game time hasn't allowed him to show his best football, but onlookers may argue that he's had opportunities, albeit sporadic ones, and hasn't grasped the chance.
Even at Everton Van de Beek, who is clearly not the player oozing with confidence we saw in Ajax's young side several years ago, has not been able to make the impact he may have hoped for. It is easy to forget the Dutchman was nominated for the 2019 Ballon d'Or - if Ten Hag can unlock that player once more, United could finally be set for a return on their investment.
