When news broke in the summer that Saudi football side Al Ittihad were chasing Mohamed Salah, but had been turned down, there was considerable sympathy for the player.
Here was a footballer, a true superstar, 31 years old at what might be the start of the down slope of his career, who was being denied the chance by his club to rake in mega-millions.
He had given Liverpool years of extraordinary service; few would quibble if he felt the need to move on and cash in. Reports suggested that the striker was to be paid £1.5 million a week by Al Ittihad, enabling him to join Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar as the poster boys of the Saudi Pro League.
Liverpool were to receive £100m straight away, with another potential £50m coming in add-ons. Still, the English team refused; Salah was theirs and he was going nowhere.