Newcastle United had a comprehensive package worth over £50 million agreed with Freiburg for Johan Manzambi, and the Switzerland international had even verbally agreed personal terms, but he ultimately chose Aston Villa's offer of Champions League football instead, completing a club-record £52 million move in July.
It was the second summer setback of its kind for Newcastle, who had also lost out on Spain winger Víctor Muñoz to Liverpool despite agreeing a fee with Osasuna.
The Magpies went on to sign eight new players regardless, including £51 million Belgian forward Matías Fernández-Pardo from Lille and £42 million winger Bazoumana Touré from Hoffenheim.
Manzambi, who recovered from a World Cup knee injury to score his first Villa goal in Saturday's 3-2 win over Tottenham, addressed the transfer saga while on international duty with Switzerland, telling 20 Minuten: "The plan presented worked out, I was happy with it.
"There are always a lot of rumours when a transfer happens, but you have to be careful what you believe."
That win was Villa's first of the Premier League season, leaving Unai Emery's side 16th, seven places and four points behind a Newcastle team with two wins and two draws from the same five games.
Switzerland go into this international break without captain Granit Xhaka, left out of the squad while an investigation into fake Covid vaccination certificates continues. Manzambi paid tribute to his absent team-mate: "It's extremely unfortunate.
"He's our captain, a legend, and outstanding both as a player and as a person. We miss him on and off the pitch, but we also want to win for him."
Switzerland face North Macedonia twice in this window, along with matches against Scotland and Slovenia.