Sometimes, a player being at a club is so brief and/or forgetful that you would never have believed it actually happened apart from the fact you had seen it with your own eyes.
That is only heightened if the transfer was a shock to begin with.
Here's a look at eight players who spent time at clubs, only to leave you wondering:
'Did that really happen?!'
8. Bebe at Manchester United
Prior to his football career taking off, Portuguese forward Bebe had endured a tough childhood in which he was abandoned by his parents and raised by his grandmother before moving into a shelter as a teenager.
After his first professional club Estrela da Amadora were unable to pay his wages, the unknown Bebe signed with Primeira Liga side Vitoria de Guimaraes, only for Manchester United to pay £7m just five weeks later on the advice of ex-assistant coach Carlos Queiroz.
It was a huge shock, but rather than live up to the fairytale, Bebe's United career was almost non-existent. He played only seven times in his debut season and was later sent on a string of loans without a further appearance to his name. He can now be found at Eibar in Spain.
7. Samuel Eto'o at Everton
One of his generation's most celebrated strikers after over 180 goals and multiple Champions League wins during his time with Barcelona and Inter Milan, Samuel Eto'o somewhat surprisingly wound up at Everton in 2014 after a less than successful 12 months with Chelsea.
The Cameroon legend actually started in fine fashion, scoring against Chelsea on his Toffees debut. It even appeared he had found a new deeper role that better suited his advancing age.
Yet seemingly no sooner had it really begun, Eto'o's Merseyside existence was over. He left Everton midway through the season, returning to Italy to join Sampdoria, and that was that.
6. Javier Mascherano at West Ham
Everyone remembers Carlos Tevez at West Ham. The forward was instrumental in keeping the Hammers in the Premier League in the final stages of the 2006/07 season and was then the subject of much controversy as relegated Sheffield United cried foul play.
Despite his arrival on the same day from the same club, fewer remember anything about Javier Mascherano's time as a West Ham player. He only played five Premier League games and had secured a move to Liverpool within just a few months.
It was at Liverpool that Mascherano began to flourish, before moving on to Barcelona where he has played over 300 games and won four La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues.
5. Alexandre Pato at Chelsea
In hindsight, the fanfare surrounding Alexandre Pato's loan move to Chelsea midway through the 2015/16 season was ill-judged and misplaced.
Arriving from Corinthians after a successful loan at Sao Paulo, the Brazilian forward had previously lit up Italy in his younger days with AC Milan. But injuries had taken a toll and it was a player seriously under prepared for actual matches that took residence in west London.
Pato did score on his Chelsea debut, converting from the spot against Aston Villa, but it was nine weeks after he'd actually signed for the club and the whole thing was a bit of a wasted venture that was quickly swept under the rug.
4. Jonathan Woodgate at Real Madrid
Jonathan Woodgate had established himself as one of the best defenders in the Premier League after his emergence at Leeds and an 18-month spell with Newcastle, but his transfer to Real Madrid in the summer of 2004 came as something of a shock.
Woodgate followed fellow Englishman Michael Owen to Spain, but he was injured at the time of the move and had already been battling fitness problems for several years anyway.
It meant the centre-back failed to play a single game in the 2004/05 campaign. It was a month into the next season that he finally made his debut, during he scored an own goal and was sent off. After only 14 appearances, Woodgate was at Middlesbrough by August 2006.
3. Nicolas Anlelka at Juventus
Distinctly regrettable and certainly forgettable, Nicolas Anelka's short stint at West Brom came to an end after he chose terminate his contract following the fall out from a controversial quenelle goal celebration - a type of inverted Nazi salute.
But before arriving back in England with the Baggies in 2013, having previously starred in the Premier League for Arsenal, Manchester City, Bolton and Chelsea, the veteran striker had endured an even more forgettable spell with Juventus just a few months earlier.
Anelka was on loan from Shanghai Shenhua in China, where he'd been barely more successful, and played just three times for Juve without scoring.
2. Nicklas Bendtner at Juventus
Another striker who was on a questionable loan with Juventus at the same time as Anelka was former Arsenal cult hero Nicklas Bendtner.
He had spent the previous campaign on loan at Sunderland where he scored just eight Premier League goals in 28 appearances, yet the reigning Italian champions opted to take the misfiring Dane to Turin on a temporary deal.
Bendtner failed to find the net once for Juve in 11 total appearances across all competitions and returned to England where he scored just twice for Arsenal in 2013/14. He played for Nottingham Forest last season and is now plying his trade in Norway.
1. Julien Faubert at Real Madrid
French winger Julien Faubert was hardly a raging success at West Ham, playing just 27 Premier League games in his first 18 months with the club, so it came as a shock to the football world when Real Madrid took him on loan for a few months in 2009.
Counting the likes of Raul, Gonzalo Higuain, Arjen Robben and Wesley Sneijder among his new team-mates couldn't raise his game and Faubert wasn't a success in Spain either.
He played only two games for Los Blancos and is remembered as much for appearing to almost fall asleep on the bench during one particular game against Villarreal than anything he actually did on the pitch.
The Blues legend who enjoyed a trophy-laden career in the Stamford Bridge was welcomed by Antonio Conte’s men at their Cobham Training Centre
Didier Drogba paid a surprise visit to the Cobham Training Centre and met with Chelsea players at their training session on Wednesday.
The Phoenix Rising forward spent quality time with the players and took snaps with with new signings – Alvaro Morata, Antonio Rudigier during his brief visit.
The 39-year-old forward who scored a total 164 goals over the course of his two years spell at the Stamford Bridge, might have provided little inspiration to the Spanish forward who joined the Premier League champions from the Real Madrid this summer.
And as the Blues prepare for their next league encounter against Everton, Antonio Conte will be hoping that the legend’s visit will spur his players to their second successive win following their defeat of Tottenham.
The former Ivory Coast international won four Premier League titles, four FA Cups, three League Cups and the Champions League in his years at Chelsea.
Roy Hodgson: Wayne Rooney could answer call to come out of retirement in future
Former England manager Roy Hodgson believes Wayne Rooney would answer a call to return to international football if he's needed.
Rooney, who picked up 119 caps and scored a record 53 goals, announced on Wednesday that he would be retiring from international football.
Speaking on The Debate, Hodgson said the Everton forward wouldn't hesitate to come back into the England fold if manager Gareth Southgate required the experienced striker at the World Cup in Russia next year.
"As you know, I'm not a gambling man and never have been, but if I was such a person I wouldn't put any money on Wayne, in that situation, refusing to come out of retirement, if it was put to him in that way, as I know what this country does mean to him in terms of playing international football," Hodgson said.
"One hopes for his sake and the country's sake that situation won't arise, but I feel sure if it came to that and Gareth went to him and said: 'We're in a terrible mess here and we really need you, will you come out retirement?' then I would be surprised if Wayne didn't say 'Yes'. But I don't know, I'm second guessing."
Hodgson and Bellamy discuss whether Rooney's retirement marks a new dawn for England
Hodgson also accepts that Rooney wouldn't want to end up wondering what he would potentially miss out on, considering the quality of player at Southgate's disposal.
The former Liverpool boss also thinks Rooney will have "lots of regrets" after announcing his retirement from international football during a qualifying campaign, especially as Hodgson suspects the current crop could peak in Russia at the World Cup next summer.
"I think he will have lots of regrets, as he knows how good this group of players, that have been put together over the last two or three years, can be and will be. He may think maybe in Russia they will show that and it would be nice to be there.
Everton captain Phil Jagielka believes Rooney is thriving under the pressure following his return to Goodison Park earlier this summer.
"All the more credit to him that he's made the decision based on his club football. You shouldn't talk someone out of that, he's not a guy who will make that decision lightly. And playing for England meant so much to him over the years."
Craig Bellamy also thinks Rooney wouldn't be able to resist the allure of returning with the prospect of going out on a high in Russia on the table if Southgate suffered an injury crisis, but the Welshman would prefer ]f the incumbent forward line got the job done.
"Of course he would, especially for a major tournament, if it comes around due to a player being injured, then I'm sure he would. Plenty of players have done it in the past.
"Hopefully for whoever is doing well for England at that time, whoever has helped them qualify for the World Cup in Russia, they get the opportunity to play in it because Wayne's done more than enough for England and has had his time."
England manager Gareth Southgate had phoned Rooney on Tuesday to invite the 31-year-old for a recall into his upcoming squad after two goals in two Premier League games following his return to Goodison Park.
But the former Manchester United captain told Southgate of his retirement decision in the same conversation.
Full Rooney statement
"It was great that Gareth Southgate called me this week to tell me he wanted me back in the England squad for the upcoming matches. I really appreciated that.
"However, having already thought long and hard, I told Gareth that I had now decided to retire for good from international football.
"It is a really tough decision and one I have discussed with my family, my manager at Everton and those closest to me.
Rooney celebrates his first England goal, against Macedonia in Euro 2004 qualifying, in 2003
"Playing for England has always been special to me. Every time I was selected as a player or captain was a real privilege and I thank everyone who helped me.
"But I believe now is the time to bow out.
Rooney broke Sir Bobby Charlton's England goal-scoring record - watch the goals that put him in the history books
"Leaving Manchester United was a tough call but I know I made the right decision in coming home to Everton. Now I want to focus all my energies on helping them be successful.
"I will always remain a passionate England fan.
One of my very few regrets is not to have been part of a successful England tournament side.
Wayne Rooney
"One of my very few regrets is not to have been part of a successful England tournament side.
"Hopefully the exciting players Gareth is bringing through can take that ambition further and I hope everyone will get behind the team.
"One day the dream will come true and I look forward to being there as a fan - or in any capacity."
CRISTIANO RONALDO REACTS TO 'INCOMPREHENSIBLE' UPHOLDING OF FIVE-MATCH BAN
Spain's Administrative Court of Sport has upheld the Portuguese star's suspension, prompting outrage from the attacker himself
Cristiano Ronaldo has described the decision to uphold his five-match ban for pushing a referee in Real Madrid's Supercopa de Espana win against Barcelona as "incomprehensible".
After being booked for removing his shirt in celebration after scoring as a substitute, Ronaldo was then shown a second yellow card in the wake of being adjudged by referee Ricardo de Burgos to have dived in the penalty area."
Madrid won the Supercopa 5-1 on aggregate against Barcelona and opened their league season with a 3-0 win at Deportivo La Coruna in Ronaldo's absence on Saturday.
He will be unavailable for Madrid's upcoming La Liga matches against Valencia, Levante and Real Sociedad as their title defence continues.
