There was a time when the only players who would consider playing for Stoke City were ones who were either clinging so desperately to the dream of playing Premier League Football that they were willing to turn a blind eye to the thuggish style they played, or the profoundly religious, as their style of play was too reminiscent of a game of Red-Arse with God for it to be deemed an actual strategy.
Well those days are gone, as the club is currently a more attractive destination for young Spanish players than Real Madrid, or at least that's the case for Barcelona youth Gerard Deulofeu.
OK, hold your horses, this isn't as much of a transfer story as it is a dig at Real Madrid from a rival player.
The former Everton loanee was asked who would he rather player for, the Potters or his hometown's rival, which he happily answered "Stoke City".
See what we did there?
