'Argentina! Argentina!' roared the Manchester United fans.
The player in question loved the idea of English folk indulging in such a chant, considering the history between the two countries.
His response? To attempt to engineer a move to arch-rivals Liverpool.
Gabriel Heinze did not get his wish, mainly due to Sir Alex Ferguson's understandable stubborness to even entertain the thought, but it was a pretty treacherous move from the South American defender.
Fortunately, the chant could be easily continued at Old Trafford as Carlos Tevez arrived on a slightly puzzling two-year loan deal from his management agency.
Tevez milked the attention from his new public and was similarly adored at West Ham as he kept them up virtually single-handedly with his all-action displays.
A scorer of crucial, often late, goals for United, his popularity soared and his never-say-die attitude is always going to go down well with any set of supporters.
In this day and age, fans of many clubs - even ones as big and glamorous as United - appreciate honest endeavour as much as ever. Cristiano Ronaldo may be brilliant but the hard work of Wayne Rooney always marked him out as more popular in the eyes of many Red Devils followers.
Similarly, Dimitar Berbatov has struggled to win over a number of the masses because of his languid style. Admittedly, he has failed to really spark since his move from Spurs but, when contrasted to Tevez's exciting approach, it has led to a lack of genuine affection for the Bulgarian.
However, now Tevez has had the chance to seal a permanent move and those tears he shed on the United bench are looking like crocodile ones.
The Argentinian is preferring a more lucrative deal elsewhere which is always going to be a little difficult to fathom when you consider the exorbitant package on offer from the champions.
Tevez can rightly argue he wants more first-team football but some United fans will be feeling more than a little let down.
If he opts to join Manchester City, that will be another kick in the teeth. Admittedly not as distressing as choosing Liverpool but enough to make the Stretford End think a little longer before deciding their next outpouring of overwhelming affection.
Such was the depth of feeling that a large bulk of the crowd decided to drown out their manager's end-of-season speech after the goalless draw with Arsenal to instruct Ferguson to 'sign him up'. It was a shocking lack of respect for the man who has done more than any player to bring success to the club.
So, if Tevez does end up at Eastlands, he was faced with pretty much the same choice as Berbatov last year.
The Bulgarian did not even entertain the idea as he wanted Champions League football and stayed true to his word.
Tevez has decided to leave a team that he has helped win consecutive Premier League titles and reach the last two finals in the biggest competition in Europe.
And yet Tevez is, or at least was, infinitely more popular. Work that one out.