When Patrick Vieira speaks, only fools ignore what he has to say.
But, while Mario Balotelli brushed off the warnings from his former Nice boss and now finds himself persona non-grata at bottom-of-the-table Brescia, Allan Saint-Maximin appears to have taken such constructive criticism on board.
12 months ago, the high-kicking, hot-stepping winger with his Gucci headband and peroxide locks looked like a footballer more suited to Freestyle YouTube videos than the hallowed turf of the Premier League.
Arsenal legend Vieira had been left thrilled and frustrated by the one-time Monaco wonder-kid during their time together on the Riviera.
And, when it became clear that a big-money move to England was on the cards, Vieira suggested that Saint-Maximin needed to swap his step-overs for more inch-perfect crosses.
“Allan’s problem is that sadly he thinks that talent is enough to go to the highest level,” he told Canal, in quotes translated by Get Football News France.
“And he needs to understand that he needs to work, to make sacrifices. He needs to suffer. And sadly, he has not yet understood that.”
These days, however, you won’t find anyone on Tyneside questioning the work ethic of a thrilling winger who has become a cult hero in record time at Newcastle United.
Eyebrows were raised when the Magpies paid £16 million to sign Saint-Maximin last summer. He was far from the finished product after all, and the shadows of Remy Cabella and Florian Thauvin loom large on Tyneside.
But it speaks volumes about how far Saint-Maximin has come that, according to the Northern Echo, he has suddenly emerged as a big-money target for the club where Vieira himself made his name.
Arsenal are allegedly interested and with good reason.
Unlike Balotelli, Saint-Maximin has taken the advice on board and flourished.
There is a ruthless streak to his game at long, long last but, crucially, that joyous Jogo Bonito style continues to shine through every time the ball lands at his twinkling toes.
While Balotelli has hit rock bottom, Saint-Maximin is heading rapidly in the other direction.
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