For a few years now there has been the feeling that the separate courses of Chelsea and Zlatan Ibrahimovic may converge at some point before the Swedish goal machine retires.
In scoring the goal that put the final nail in the Blues' European coffin for not one, but two seasons (and who knows how many more) – he is already to some extent written into the club's history.
But what price a career-ending stint for the Marmite figure at Stamford Bridge?
The prevailing wisdom had been that if it were going to happen, then the best chance would be while on Jose Mourinho's watch.
In his famously self-regarding autobiography, I Am Zlatan (he is, you know), Zlatan (for it is he) speaks in glowing terms about, well, mostly Zlatan.
Save for one section, where he issues rare bounteous praise for another – and in tones even more generous than those saved for himself.
“I like him. He’s the leader of his army,” he writes of Mourinho. “But he cares, too. He would text me all the time at Inter, wondering how I was doing.
“Mourinho would become a guy I was basically willing to die for.”
There had been speculation for some time that an Ibrahimovic late-career cameo was always part of the Mourinho plan at Chelsea, and that Roman Abramovich was on-board with this - though that would appear to have faded into the sunset now.
Having said that, the Premier League has to be the favourite destination for the Swede post-PSG, and it is clear where he won't be going – from this further excerpt of his thinking on Mourinho.
“He’s the exact opposite of Pep Guardiola,” he continued.
“If Mourinho lights up a room, Guardiola draws the curtains. I guessed that Guardiola was trying to match up to him.”
So no 'Welcome To Manchester' billboard on Great Ancoats for Ibrahimovic then.
The Premier League would undoubtedly be the 34-year-old's favoured destination for a number of reasons: for the profile, for the payday, and for the challenge of taking-on one of the two remaining big European leagues in which he has never competed.
And the desire to take him would clearly be there at a number of clubs.
At Chelsea, it would be strong – for both footballing and commercial reasons.
In recent years, the squad has been set-up with a suite of three strikers: a first choice, a utility man (often also used as a winger), and an ender statesman.
The return of Didier Drogba, the unlikely signing of Samual Eto'o – could Ibrahimovic be next in the list?
He wouldn't be an option for 90 minutes week-in, week-out: but he would have massive potential to change games form the bench, and offer back-up to Diego Costa (should he remain).
He would also, in a season without European football, act as a draw for the tourist footfall that is a key part of Chelsea's business plan – in all likelihood becoming an instant cult hero with the rank and file.
During Chelsea's last season at the existing Stamford Bridge, and first season at temporary-home Wembley, he could be the sort of added attraction needed to fill those extra seats for some theoretical Wednesday-night League Cup tie against Blackburn.
But, just as Chelsea's lack of European football might make him more attractive to them, the reverse is unlikely to be the case.
A man of his assumed calibre would probably be expecting to play on the highest stage or, at the very least, in some form of UEFA competition.
For that reason, with European football as good as planned into the schedule, and a new stadium to fill – one might imagine somewhere like West Ham would be a more attractive destination for him.
One thing, amid all the rumours, which does stand out as a bit of a red herring is the claim Chelsea are ready to offer him a two-year deal.
That would breach the club's well-stated policy of requiring year-by-year contracts for all over the age of 31 – and would raise serious questions about the treatment John Terry is presently receiving.
Ultimately, while many would like to see it, the chances of watching Ibrahimovic in Chelsea blue next season appear to be slim.
But, as we have seen with transfer targets before – particularly eye catching strikers who have found the favour of a certain Russian – never say never.
