Angel di Maria and Cesc Fabregas sealed moves to the Premier League during the summer as they knew their time at Real Madrid and Barcelona respectively had come to a premature end.
La Liga's loss was the Premier League's gain as two of the world's best midfielders were able to complete moves to England.
Both Di Maria and Fabregas, who cost a cumulative total of £87million, were on show at Old Trafford on Sunday as Premier League leaders Chelsea came up against Manchester United.
Di Maria and Fabregas had their quietest games since moving to England.
Fabregas, who has formed a formidable partnership with Nemanja Matic, played just ahead of John Terry and Gary Cahill - with his main role being to collect the ball from the two centre-backs before passing it on to the likes of Eden Hazard, Oscar and Willian.
However the Spaniard completed just five passes in the opposition half before the interval.
Di Maria also put in a sub-standard performance during the first half. The Argentina international's most memorable moment until Manchester United's late equaliser came in the fourth minute when he sent a volley flying over the bar.
Robin van Persie got on the end of a long ball from Di Maria to head towards goal in the 23rd minute, however his effort was down to his predatory instinct rather than the Argentine's creativity.
Fabregas' delivery from set-pieces were poor up until the 53rd minute. It was the former Arsenal man who played in a delightful corner towards the direction of Didier Drogba who was given the easy task of rising above Rafael to head past the helpless David de Gea.
Fabregas has now been involved in nine of his side's league goals in his nine Premier League appearances for the Blues.
Premier League record signing Di Maria, who switched to the left hand side in the second half, played a key role in United's stoppage time equaliser as the 26-year-old won the free-kick which led to Branislav Ivanovic's red card and Van Persie's leveller.
Di Maria, who was brought down by Ivanovic, swung in a cross to Marouane Fellaini whose headed effort rebounded to Van Persie who placed the ball past Thibaut Courtois.
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