Fenerbahce were one of the top Turkish suitors interested in Kyle Walker-Peters' transfer last winter, but the player's call closed the doors on a reunion with boss Jose Mourinho.
Arguably, no Southampton fan would've had second thoughts on Walker-Peters' loyalty during his Saints spell, but his recent activities have had many feel betrayed. And that's been rightly so for how he used the club's helplessness to force a free transfer.
Still, despite acknowledging this, a fair share of supporters would want to look forward, forgetting this KWP behaviour. But, with new surprising details emerging about the full-back's case, the saga feels far from over.
The other day, Saints realised how Walker-Peters deprived them of an £8m opportunity. And now, as per a new update, the St. Mary's faithful are in for another shock as he rejected a transfer request from Jose Mourinho.
That's because, as per Saints Extra, Mourinho's Fenerbahce were a possible destination alongside Galatasaray for Walker-Peters in January. But the full-back's decision to see out a Southampton contract denied a chance to work with legendary boss Jose Mourinho.
Walker-Peters' Besiktas move will see him against ex-boss Mourinho
Now, for the St. Mary's faithful who have seen Man United icons showing surprising interest in Saints players time and again, this throwback might feel like an ordinary one. Yet, what's interesting is that Mourinho's interest was unusual in the sense that he was considering KWP for a reunion.
To note, Mourinho had worked with Walker-Peters during his Tottenham tenure and while the duo saw only a game together, it was enough to spark an interest in the boss for the full-back's potential.
Honestly, denying an iconic manager in Jose Mourinho feels an injustice in its own right, given how even the best football players remain longing to play under him. And for Walker-Peters tipped for a Besiktas move, to Fenerbahce's rivals, the ex-Saint has taken an intriguingly bold step now.
But while this adds to the action of the Super Lig ahead of the next season, it's been a transfer defeat for Southampton overall. Hopefully, the Saints learn not to overtrust any player to find themselves in this kind of situation again.