As jubilant Leeds fans lingered after their team had left the field still overjoyed at a successful last-day relegation fight, it was impossible not to be drawn to the sight of Christian Eriksen.
The Dane danced on the Brentford Community Stadium pitch with his three-year-old son Alfred, waved to supporters as he walked along the touchline with his partner Sabrina and their young daughter, handed his shirt to a fan and clambered over seats to pose for selfies.
It was the drawing to a close of one of football's greatest good-news stories - and now the 30-year-old is beginning the next chapter after signing a three-year deal with Manchester United.
Less than 12 months previously, Eriksen had collapsed during Denmark's Euro 2020 game against Finland following cardiac arrest.
Slowly, he pieced his life back together. He had to leave Inter Milan after he had an implantable cardioverter defibrillator fitted, but he was free to play in England, and Brentford offered him a short-term deal.
Brentford didn't win against Leeds. But Eriksen did. He had proved he could resume his professional career.
But, to be brutal, as a footballer, Eriksen is too good for Brentford.
- Man Utd sign Eriksen on three-year contract
- De Jong contract dispute holds up Man Utd move
- Chelsea end interest in Ronaldo
- For more on United's transfer plans and summer tour, go to our club page
Why Eriksen?
It would be folly to claim Eriksen can transform Manchester United on his own. But he is the kind of signing the Old Trafford club have been desperate for.
The exit of Paul Pogba this summer has left new manager Erik ten Hag badly short of a creative element in his team. And Pogba's contribution could be stellar or non-existent. Eriksen is a far more stable influence and far more consistent.
He proved at Brentford he retains the ability to see passes few others can. At a club like United, where attacking talent has foundered partly through the lack of chances created, that is a priceless commodity.
Bruno Fernandes was a breath of fresh air when he arrived at Old Trafford from Sporting Lisbon in 2020, mainly because he played with his head up and looked forward. Eriksen does that - and is more reliable with his execution.
He is capable of playing deep in midfield, or further advanced, either wide or as a number 10. In the type of fluid team Ten Hag is looking to put together, Eriksen's major strengths are priceless commodities.
Should Cristiano Ronaldo remain at the club, as many believe is still possible despite the present position, Eriksen is capable of creating chances as he once did for Harry Kane at Tottenham and more recently Romelu Lukaku at Inter Milan.
Eriksen is not Ten Hag's first signing of the summer - and he won't be the last. But he could well be the most important.
Christian Eriksen made 11 Premier League starts for Brentford last season, scoring one goal