When Berlin was announced as the host venue for the 2015 Champions League final just over two years ago, little did Alvaro Morata think he would be starting in it.
And little did he think that if he were to get that far, it wouldn't be in the colours of Real Madrid, Los Blancos.
Early days in Madrid
He was just 20 at the time, waiting patiently on the Real Madrid bench for an opportunity to displace the prolific Karim Benzema. Not an enviable task, but one that Morata seemed satisfied with, having been a boyhood Madrid fan.
He was building a solid repuation for himself as a promising young striker, whilst his 6ft 2' frame was providing a handy alternative option whenever the chips were down for Real. He was happy, and so were the fans as they were overseeing the development of local talent.
However, as the 2013-14 season progressed, the situation changed. Despite putting in good performances whenever on the pitch, Morata simply wasn't starting enough games. He made his feelings clear to both the management and media, and it didn't go down too well.
Things became frosty with manager Carlo Ancelotti, and with the team playing so well in the Champions League, fans started to side with the Italian. So much so that Morata barely featured towards the end of the season, however did end up with a Champions League winners medal.
With Madrid well clear of Atletico Madrid in extra time, 3-1 ahead, the striker came on to soak in the atmosphere for the final 10 minutes as the Spanish side clinched La Decima. It was without doubt a high point, but what followed was inevitable.
Heading to Italy
Juventus' new manager Massimiliano Allegri took the gamble on Morata, shelling out £15.8million to bring him to Italy. The Serie A champions wanted a young gun to provide competition for the ageing Fernando Llorente and Carlos Tevez.
This is what he did, fading in and out of the starting 11 from September until Christmas, with his first goal coming against Atalanta, and another handful following. He didn't adapt to an Italian style of play straight away, which is why he wasn't a consistent starter in the league, but could tell that he was in a more appreciative environment than the Bernabeu.
European impact
However, it was the Champions League where he began thriving. Despte returning to the peak of domestic football, Juve hadn't made an impact at European level, and Allegri wanted to change this.
Morata made just a slight impact in the group stage, as the Old Lady edged through in second place, just a point ahead of Olympiakos. They drew Borussia Dortmund in the last 16, with Morata grabbing a goal in each game as Juve ran riot, 5-1 on aggregate.
The quarter finals saw a sterner test, with AS Monaco the opposition. A 1-0 victory over two legs was all that was needed, Morata again starring as his won the penalty which secured Juve's first-leg victory. This set up the mother of all semi final's, with Juventus drawn against Real Madrid. The draw, as it happens, was made just days after the striker had made some controversial comments in the media.
When Juventus purchased him, Madrid had inserted a buy-back clause into the deal, meaning they could open contract talks with him at any time, as long as they paid a certain fee. This had been made public knowledge, however little had been made of it until he had hit form. When asked about it, he had some pretty harsh words for Ancelotti in particular.
"I'm so happy here that I cannot even contemplate the idea of being in Madrid or at any other club," said Morata. "I think it would be disrespectful to my club, my coach and my teammates even to suggest or think [about going back].
"I left to win my place in the national team and many thought I was crazy but the truth is I'm much more appreciated now I'm playing outside of Spain. When somebody packs their bags and leaves, they mature in many different ways.
"I still cannot understand how I went from playing well for Real Madrid to sitting in the stands. I hardly had any kind of relationship with [Ancelotti]. I didn't demand a starting berth, but certainly I would have expected a different kind of treatment."
Facing Real
After these strong words, much was made of the Morata - Real battle in the build up to the semi, with some critics citing is as a chance for Morata to prove Ancelotti wrong once and for all. And he did.
Eight minutes was all it took for him to get on the scoresheet at Juventus Stadium, sending the home fans wild. One of Morata's childhood heroes, 'saint' Iker Casillas spilled a Tevez shot, allowing him to tap in from three yards out. A muted celebration, for a momentus moment.
If anything, his achievement was perhaps overshadowed by the nature of the game that followed. A classic Champions League affair saw Cristiano Ronaldo sweep home a first half equaliser for Madrid, before Tevez converted a penalty in the 57th minute that would prove to be the winner.
A 2-1 scoreline left both sides with a good chance of progression in the second leg, with many fancying Madrid to have enough quality on their own patch to progress by two or three goals. Morata had other ideas.
The predictions had been true to their word, as another Ronaldo goal put Madrid ahead at the Bernabeu, and they held that lead until half time. A single goal victory was good enough to see them through, and it looked like they would set up an el classico final with Barcelona, until the storybooks were re-written, with just one shot.
Paul Pogba's giant leap was rewarded, as the ball fell perfectly to Morata inside the penalty area. He chested it down, took a breath, and hammered a shot into the turf, beating Casillas. Bar a small section of Juventus fans in the heavens, everything went quiet, as players and fans alike took in what had happened.
The local boy, sold because he wasn't deemed good enough, had returned to dump the club he adored out of the competition they adore so much, within just one year of leaving.
One final twist?
And what was his prize for such a conquest? Just the small deal of a Champions League final.
A Champions League final that happens to be against Madrid's greatest rivals, FC Barcelona, who are going for a treble of their own.
Madrid fans will be keen for Morata to have an impact in the final, and the feeling is mutual. "I'll try to win, because of what it means for Real Madrid fans as well," said the forward.
"But if I score in the final, it won't be special because of having scored against Barca, but because of the importance of a Champions League final, it's an opportunity to go down in history."
We shall wait until Saturday night to see if he can deliver on that wish. If he does, it will be the latest in a list of achievements for Alvaro Morata, as he looks to surpass Los Blancos.