Rio Ferdinand expressed utter disbelief that his fellow former Leeds United star Raphinha was not snapped up by a Premier League club when he left Elland Road in 2022.
The former Leeds defender - who split the fanbase with his £30m transfer to rivals Manchester United back in 2002 - was watching on at Montjuic as a commentator for TNT Sports covering Barcelona vs Inter Milan on Wednesday night.
The Champions League semi-final first-leg was an electric affair, capped off by Raphinha's second-half heroics. The Brazilian struck from a practiced corner routine, with a ricochet off the crossbar turned over the line by the unwitting goalkeeper Yann Sommer and that was the definitive equaliser at three goals apiece.
"It makes you wonder how he was ever allowed to leave the Premier League, the heights that he has hit now. Some player," Ferdinand commented after watching the event take place.
Raphinha has been a trailblazer in Europe this year, with his 12 goals and eight assists combined being the most contributions in the Champions League. He has now surpassed the Barca record set previously by Lionel Messi for contributions in a single season in the competition.
In total he has made 138 appearances for La Blaugrana, scoring 50 and assisting 50, approaching the end of his third year in Spain. This season's La Liga and Champions League titles are firmly in his sights, having already won the Copa del Rey last week.
Before then, the winger was a threat in the English top-flight for Leeds. He netted 17 times alongside 12 assists in 67 outings in the competition, with that fine form enough to make the Catalan club lodge a £50m offer.
So here, Ferdinand believes at that point in time one of the top-flight's big challengers should have been contesting for his signature. Still, even if the 28-year-old no longer plays in this country, he has constantly been linked through rumours of making a return.
Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Man United have all found their names tentatively brought up in the discussion. Of course, if he were to return to one of the above teams, he would be pitted against his former club Leeds when they make the step up a division for the 2025/26 term.