For Sinan Bytyqi, things were going well.
The Manchester City starlet, who fled war torn Kosovo with his parents as a baby, was winning rave reviews during a loan spell in Holland.
During his last visit to Manchester, Pep Guardiola had pulled the then 21-year-old aside for a discreet word, wishing him luck and telling him his progress with Go Ahead Eagles was being monitored closely.
On the streets of his home village, many proudly strolled around in City gear, and followed his progress religiously.