After an incredible season for the Aston Villa Women, the players will either be preparing for the upcoming Euros in Switzerland or enjoying a long holiday. For AVWFC player Gabi Nunes, it was a moment to spend some time with fellow Brazilian international Roberto Carlos before the offseason gets too much underway.
In a post that has been shared on social media, the two Brazilians were seen posing together, with RC3 holding a Villa jersey of hers. An Olympic silver medalist in her own right, Nunes having this image circulated, should remind AVFC supporters of a move that nearly was for the left-back.
At the time with Palmeiras, Brazil and Sweden had played a friendly at Villa Park during the 1995 Umbro Cup. Then manager Brian Little was reportedly not interested enough, and Roberto Carlos would end up going to Inter Milan.
It was certainly a missed opportunity and a major 'what-if,' particularly as he would go on to be one of the best left-backs of all time. Although, then as now, it's doubtful that any club in England would have been able to stave off the eventual Real Madrid interest.
There is still something of a wonder. Had Villa been able to pull off this move at the time, things could have looked much different in the history of the sport. Still, as things stand now for Roberto Carlos, it's doubtful that he's too disappointed in how things turned out.
Interesting potential Aston Villa twist
Later on, once his time at the Spanish capital had come to an end, there was also reportedly a potential opportunity for RC3 to come to Birmingham. As is known, of course, nothing concrete came of those efforts either.
Another fun hypothetical to entertain would be the prospect of Nunes and RC3 teaming up now to form a Brazilian left-back and forward duo. Depending on the setting, that could be a pair that would lead to a lot of goals. Either way, from one current Villan to an almost-Villan, it was a picture that gave a nice glimpse from the past with the present.