This summer provided one of the most high-profile transfer stand-offs in recent years, involving Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez.
The Argentina international looked to force a move to Barcelona against the wishes of his club, but he failed to engineer the move and remained at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano at the end of the window.
He scored his second goal of the season against Deportivo La Coruna and sent a message to the fans, asking for forgiveness for his actions.
The 26-year-old has been something of a pantomime villain at his club this season, with the fans not hiding their discontent with how he acted over the summer.
At the start of the season, his name was routinely booed by the fans whenever it was called by the stadium announcer, as they felt betrayed by his insistence on leaving to join Barcelona just two years after he joined them.
"If I Were a Fan, I'd Be Angry Too": Alvarez Clears the Air
After enduring weeks of hostility and jeers from home supporters following his aborted summer move to La Liga rivals Barcelona, Julian Alvarez has taken full accountability.
In an interview with league broadcaster Movistar Plus after his winner against Depor, he addressed the saga without holding back.
"I'd like to apologise to our fans for what I said at the World Cup; it was a mistake in terms of how I said it and the timing.
"I understand why the fans are angry. If I were a fan, I'd be angry too. Especially given how they've supported me since I arrived.
"I hope that with hard work and humility I can turn this situation around. I've been feeling better in recent matches - both physically and on the ball. I want to help the team and give my best," he said (via TNT Sports).
Alvarez was routinely booed by the fans in the opening weeks of the season due to his antics in the summer.
The former Manchester City man has now scored in back-to-back games for Los Colchoneros, with his latest strike lifting them to within two points of Barcelona at the summit of the standings.
Winning back trust through on-pitch performance under Simeone
Despite intense friction between the player's camp and club hierarchy over Atlético's refusal to sell their prized goalscorer, Álvarez has slowly re-established his importance on the pitch.
Atleti stood firm in the summer, deciding against selling the striker to rivals Barcelona at any price.
The side struggled for goals at the start of this season, leading Marcos Llorente to issue a cry aimed at Alvarez earlier in the campaign.
Alvarez looked like a shadow of himself in the opening weeks of the campaign, but appears to have come to life again.
With his work rate, pressing intensity, and clinical finishing returning to peak levels, Álvarez is intent on using humility and hard work to fully repair his bond with the red-and-white faithful.
