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When the team sheet fell for the Manchester City title with Liverpool in January, a name made Blues fans groan.
The sight of Danilo behind him, where he would face the dangerous man Sadio Mane, did not rebadure many people.
But the fact that the Brazilian international was preferred to Kyle Walker, who dithered on the bench, told a story in itself.
Pep Guardiola was turned to the former man of Real Madrid after Walker pressed the self-destruct button while City lost to home against Crystal Palace in December.
This change was not an instant success because Danilo was as bad as anyone in the defeat at Leicester.
He kept his place while City was recovering from consecutive defeats in Southampton and was, surprisingly, comforted by Guardiola's vote of confidence against Liverpool.
But he was strong, determined and disciplined while the leaders were beaten and the gap was reduced to four points.
Guardiola had to face another crisis, forcing Guardiola to return to the match and swap Danilo to the left – he had been disappointing last season, although he was bought as a player able to fill at once at the back and middle positions.
The problem at the time was that his right foot made him predictable – he was constantly cutting inside when he was attacking.
This season it has been much better left, even though it never looks so comfortable.
This strange bad game has influenced the opinion of some fans against the 27-year-old player, but he remains a valuable player in the team, although his versatility has become a problem for him.
Keeping in mind that he had missed the pre-season due to an ankle injury he had contracted during the World Cup finals, he was a valuable badet to the Blues.
His importance to the team was highlighted when City was found against Schalke in the return leg of their 16th draw in the Champions League.
With Vincent Kompany and Fernandinho injured, suspended Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones big enough for the bench, central defenders were rare.
Danilo played one of three goals in Liverpool's 5-0 win last season, but he had never played in that position before.
He was barely tested by a Bundesliga squad that was outclbaded and beaten 7-0, but Guardiola's confidence in him is enough.
The signature of £ 26m still seems to be a peripheral figure, but he has recorded 14 starts and five appearances in replacement this season, despite an injury depriving him of three months.
He is not the first choice, regardless of position, but Guardiola knows he has a player he can trust in four or five different positions as the season draws to a close.
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