"Jean-Pierre, I don't understand".
Those were the words spoken by Nice's managing director to the club's president when Barcelona pulled out of a move for star midfielder Jean Michael Seri. The Ivorian international looked set to move to Camp Nou in a €40m deal in the summer of 2017, only for Ernesto Valverde's side to pull the plug.
Barca signed Paulinho for a similar sum that same window, and Seri stayed at Nice for another season before finally getting his big-money move, joining free-spending Fulham after the Cottagers' promotion to the Premier League. An up-and-down four years at Craven Cottage were full of frustration, though, and the midfielder - now 31 - has a chance to take stock of his career as he takes on the London side with new club Hull City in the third round of the FA Cup.
