Gustavo Scarpa signed for Nottingham Forest earlier this month but he could have been lining up for Manchester United in 2017.
The Brazilian has been training with his new teammates for around a fortnight but he can’t play until January.
His contract officially starts in the New Year, with Scarpa joining on a free transfer from league champions Palmeiras.
Things could have been different though. Jose Mourinho was keen to sign Scarpa when he was in charge at Old Trafford.
According to 90Min, the Portuguese boss wanted the forward who was playing for Fluminense at the time.
Scarpa was only 23-years-old back then and he was still finding his way in the professional game.
Mourinho wanted the left-footed player to join them as the Red Devils languished in sixth place in the Premier League.
Ultimately they didn’t sign him and in 2018, Scarpa left Fluminense to join rivals Palmeiras and continue his career in Brazil.
Now, the player who has one-cap for Brazil will get the chance to embark on a European adventure with Forest.
It’s quite interesting that United famously wanted him and especially a manager as esteemed as Mourinho.
The Special One gets a lot of criticism but take away his pragmatic style of play, he’s one of the greatest managers to ever grace football.
Forest signed Scarpa but he could have gone to Manchester United
This would have been an intriguing move for the forward. United would have been a great move for the player but it never came to fruition.
Forest do look to have signed a quality player tough. Last season, he won the Golden Ball in Brazil, voted the best player in the top division.
He scored 13 goals and claimed 15 assists as Palmeiras romped to the league title with Scarpa bang in form.
Forest will be eager to see Scarpa out on the City Ground turf strutting his stuff in the Premier League.
As they witness him in action, Reds fans will hope United supporters are left wondering what might have been.