After what went on before, it was perhaps inevitable that Oumar Niasse's latest visit to Crystal Palace was going to play out like this.
This was the club he was scripted to join from Everton on deadline day, only for the move to collapse an hour before the window shut because of a dispute over agent fees.
It was otherwise all done. He was in central London, the majority of the meaningful terms were agreed and the £7m move was on. And then it wasn't.
All of which gave rise to his return south on Saturday, back in an Everton shirt after spending much of last season on loan at Hull, largely unwanted by Ronald Koeman.