Tammy Abraham was sitting on the bench waiting for his chance to play in the game against Fulham a year ago.
The Englishman who is the top scorer in the first season of the Italian league with 17 goals, is idolised by the fans of his club and is coming towards the end of a stunning first season.
Abraham will have the chance to cement legendary status at the Italian side as they make their bid for a first European trophy for 50 years when they play Feyenoord in the Europa Conference League final.
It is possible that the move to Rome has been the making of Abraham, or that he is simply being given the chance to show what he can do.
Abraham has not come out of nowhere.
Abraham scored 18 goals in the season when Frank Lampard was in charge of the team.
The first-team opportunities decline for Thomas Tuchel when he arrived in January of last year. Abraham made seven appearances under the German in the last seven months of last season, but Tuchel later admitted he did not have trust in him.
The signing of Romelu Lukaku made it clear that Abraham was not in the running for a spot.
It was a big-money move for the Italians as they paid 34 million dollars for Abraham, with manager Jose Mourinho convincing the club that he would be worth it.
Abraham, who could add to his 10 England caps in June after being named in the squad to face Hungary, Germany and Italy in the Nations League, said it was all about someone believing in him.
The previous manager, Frank Lampard, gave me that chance. When I was producing, he showed real faith in me. It is the same.
It makes you want to do the best you can when you have belief in the manager. It is just confidence.
Being able to settle in another country is one thing, but having a manager's belief is another.
There are many instances of English players heading overseas and flourishing, but there are also cautionary tales of those who have struggled to adapt to a new culture and language.
From the moment Abraham stepped off the plane, he felt wanted and that helped him settle quickly.
He said it made him feel like one of his own immediately after he arrived in Rome.
I told myself that I would give my blood, sweat, tears for this club and it has been an amazing year.
Abraham moved into his new surroundings. He can be seen around Rome with his girlfriend when he isn't on the pitch.
"Just learn about Rome," he said when asked what he likes to do after training. Once, after being spotted by a group of fans at a restaurant following a Roma defeat he bought them all dinner.
The bond between player and fans was strengthened by the sight of Abraham singing the anthem before the start of the season.
He has gotten into the life here. Andrew Cesare, a Rome-based Football Italia journalist, told the BBC that he isn't just staying in his hotel room.
He once told a funny story when he was caught drinking a drink after dinner, but it is a morning drink here. He is learning about the culture.
I am not sure how much Italian he has learned yet, but there was a recent video where he teased Chris Smalling for having not learned any of the language, suggesting he understands the importance of it.
Roma fans are so proud of where they come from and they want people to acknowledge that, which Tammy has done.
Abraham has already set a new record.
He broke Gabriel Batistuta and Vincenzo Montella's record of 21 goals in their debut season, and currently has 27.
Abraham has nine goals in only 12 games, which has been key to the success of the team.
His tally makes him the highest- scoring Englishman in Europe's top five leagues, and that form will not go unnoticed.
I don't think it's an easy decision for a young local player to leave his club, to leave his house, his city, his country, to leave the premier league - which of course is a competition that, when a player is in
He made that option and I think he made it by trusting me. If he wants to go back to England, he needs to click his fingers.
If Abraham scores the winning goal in Tirana on Wednesday, his love for Roma will only get stronger.
Cesare said that he would have the freedom of Rome.
The celebrations for the league title in 2001 lasted for the whole summer.
A European trophy would be up there. There would be more celebrations in the summer.
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