As if it is not galling enough for Manchester United supporters to watch Champions League football from their armchairs, the ensemble cast of the quarter-finals is a who's who of talent that has got away from the club.
Robert Lewandowski, now eliminated with Bayern Munich, was on Sir Alex Ferguson's radar in 2012, David Moyes passed on Thiago Alcantara, who went on to sign for Pep Guardiola and then Jurgen Klopp. Moyes also met Toni Kroos's agent, Jose Mourinho shortlisted Ruben Dias and coveted the Atletico Madrid enforcer Jose Gimenez.
The two to truly rue are Karim Benzema and Luka Modric. Modric's tie-salvaging assist for Rodrygo against Chelsea was the zenith of assist-trumps-goal for the season and Benzema's fourth goal in two games against the holders edged an absorbing spectacle.
