Typically when a player does a loan spell, particularly when between competing Premier League sides such as Leicester City and Brighton & Hove Albion, there is an expectation of time on the pitch. After all, while saving money on wages could be part of the factor, usually it would suit the club better to train and develop someone themselves if they aren't going to be featured anyway.
Unfortunately for Facundo Buonanotte and his parent club, this has been the case at LCFC. Granted, the Argentinian is only now recovered from a concussion that saw him miss the last few weeks. Even before then, however, the Brighton attacker seemingly fell out of favor with Ruud van Nistelrooy.
At times, it was the 20-year-old who looked most likely to pose a threat going forward out of all the Foxes. Still, despite a season that certainly couldn't be accused of having too many goal-scoring opportunities, Buonanotte often found himself on the outside looking in during matchday rotations.
This was particularly puzzling, not in that he necessarily made a case for Ballon d'Or or anything like that, but in that he was excluded when City faced an overall attacking drought. When he did get subbed on, it was often he who looked most likely to at least make the keeper think.
During these past months, toward the end of the current campaign, Brighton must have regretted agreeing to this arrangement and wished they had pulled him back sooner. That part is over now. It doesn't bode well for future similar loan deals when other clubs will have witnessed what just happened during Buonanotte's stay in the East Midlands.
This isn't to suggest that others wouldn't be willing to deal with City. If there are, hypothetically, two options, then something like this could be enough to explore a different route for a prospective talent to gain valuable experience.
Chance to somewhat make amends for Leicester
Fortunately for City, last impressions are what stick the most. With nothing else to play for but pride, Buonanotte showing glimpses of what he's capable of and some signs of growth should be enough to ward off that potential impression others may have of LCFC.
In some instances, there is a good possibility of the player on loan permanently leaving their parent club. That specifically does not have a chance of happening here. A decent showing and even a goal from Buonanotte could give fans something to cheer for in the dying embers of a disastrous season and provide a more hopeful send-off for the midfielder on his return to Brighton.