It says everything about the length of time Manchester United have been struggling to turn Paul Pogba into a world-beating asset that fax technology was the preferred form of communication when the efforts began.
It was May 2009 and internet reports had started circulating about their interest in the 16-year-old player of Le Havre, whose managing director, Alain Belsoeur, faxed the then Old Trafford chief executive David Gill to say he was French property.
United's rapid response — a telephone call from then academy director Brian McClair and several faxes back — indicated their great interest.