The footballing gods were in playful mood on Tuesday evening, as Manchester United slipped to a 13th Premier League defeat of the season, having been undone by one of their own academy graduate at the City Ground.
Now plying his trade for Nottingham Forest, Anthony Elanga ripped through the Red Devils at breakneck speed to net what proved to be the game's only goal, with the fleet-footed Swede having now registered 29 goals and assists since leaving United back in 2023.
Sold for just £15m, the 22-year-old has made that fee look an absolute "bargain" amid his form since - as noted by analyst Ben Mattinson - albeit with new boss Ruben Amorim appearing to refute claims that selling the winger was a mistake.
Speaking in his post-match press conference following the 1-0 defeat, Amorim suggested that in-form players like Elanga - and Marcus Rashford - had been given a fair "chance" to succeed at Old Trafford, while then going on to state that the "pressure is too big" for certain players at the club.
In essence, the 40-year-old appeared to hint that such talents have only been able to flourish after breaking free of the scrutiny that comes with playing for such a historic club like United.
Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim during the press conference-1
In the case of Elanga, his fruitful stint at Forest has followed a return of just four goals and four assists in 55 first-team games for United - were the club really in the wrong to sell him?
Why Man Utd sold Elanga in 2023
In the view of journalist Samuel Luckhurst, the "only mistake" that the Red Devils - then led by Erik ten Hag - made was "not getting a higher fee" for the Swedish speedster upon his exit almost two years ago, with Elanga hardly setting the world alight prior to that departure.
Elanga-Man-Utd-Onana
Despite scoring his first senior goal away at Wolverhampton Wanderers on the final day of the 2020/21 campaign, it wasn't until the arrival of interim boss, Ralf Rangnick, that Elanga properly forced his way into the first-team frame the following season.
Much of the winger's impact came in the final few months of 2021/22, having scored away at Brentford and Leeds United, as well as in the 1-1 draw with Atletico Madrid in the Champions League.
Those latter two strikes came in just the space of a few days, although as it proved, Elanga wouldn't score again for the club after that, having been reduced to a bit-part role following Ten Hag's arrival.
As the BBC's Simon Stone has stated, the Dutchman 'did not feel Elanga had the quality needed to be enough of an influence on his squad', hence the decision to let him depart.
anthony-elanga-premier-league-everton-transfers
Having failed to score in 26 games in 2022/23, there were likely few objections when the Malmo-born starlet was eventually sold, not least with Alejandro Garnacho having emerged that season.
Hindsight might suggest that Ten Hag was mistaken in his view of Elanga, although it could be argued that United already have a bigger talent on the flanks - he just wasn't playing on Tuesday...
The Man Utd star who's worth more than Elanga
There were instant comparisons made between the performances of Garnacho and Elanga at the City Ground, with the Argentine perhaps in danger of heading the same way as his former teammate, amid talk of an exit.
Garnacho-vs-Elanga-Premier-League
That said, it's worth remembering that as Elanga toiled in 2022/23, a star was born in Garnacho, with the then-teenager ending that campaign with nine goals and assists in the senior ranks.
In a team that looks far too content with playing it safe in attack, Garnacho is, to his credit, a risk tasker - so too, is Amad Diallo.
As previously explored, the Ivorian had fallen behind the likes of Elanga in the pecking order amid a muted start to life in Manchester, with the diminutive left-footer having arrived on a £19m deal from Atalanta in January 2021.
It has arguably taken until this season for the one-time Rangers and Sunderland loanee to truly become a central figure at Old Trafford, but boy, has he taken his chance.
Man Utd's highest value academy players
Player
Kobbie Mainoo
Marcus Rashford
Alejandro Garnacho
Scott McTominay
Mason Greenwood
Anthony Elanga
Dwight McNeil
Angel Gomes
Andreas Pereira
James Garner
Stats via Transfermarkt
Following Ruud van Nistelrooy's interim spell - which yielded two goals and one assist for Amad - the 22-year-old had been the shining light of United's campaign, up until last month's cruel injury blow, having chalked up 12 goal involvements in only 20 games under Amorim.
The wing "wizard" - as previously hailed by journalist James Copley - has nine goals and eight assists to his name in total this season, with Elanga, meanwhile, having contributed six goals and nine assists for Forest.
Currently leading his former colleague for goal contributions, Amad is also deemed to be the higher value asset, according to Transfermarkt, having seen his worth soar to £34m. Elanga, by contrast, is valued at 'just' £29m.
That rising valuation has followed the signing of a new long-term contract for the £120k-per-week sensation, with Amorim also providing a boost after suggesting that his rising star is set to return before the campaign is over.
amad-diallo-man-utd
As that bumper new deal has indicated, Amad represents the future of Man Utd. Elanga - for all his positive displays since leaving Old Trafford - is now part of the past.
Other-Elanga-Man-Utd-Forest Related
Man Utd's £50k-p/w star is in danger of becoming the new Anthony Elanga
Man Utd saw Elanga come back to haunt them on Tuesday evening at the City Ground