Twelve minutes were enough for Mamadou Sangare to prove that the pre-match hype was real.
Receiving possession midway into the Tottenham Hotspur half, Brentford's debutant surged towards goal, exchanged quick passes with Matthias Jensen, raced into the box, and cut a quick cross back across goal for Keane Lewis-Potter to open the scoring.
For a player signed primarily for his defensive qualities, this was a remarkably refined and effective attacking contribution to introduce himself at the Gtech Stadium.
Quickly, Brentford fans become familiar to the acceleration, the composure, the aggression, the anticipation and the assertiveness that Sangare brings to the heart of the park.
Before the first half was over, the new man had played a big part in Brentford's third.
This time, Nathan Collins headed a corner into his path, the Mali international raced onto the ball and fired towards goal from inside the box, and while Antonin Kinsky saved the first effort, Michael Kayode was first to latch onto the rebound.
"He's settled in really well," Brentford head coach Keith Andrews told Match of the Day. "Again, it's pre-season so you don't want to get too excited, but the cohesion he brings to an already-talented midfield, we're really happy with him."
Sangare was bold, he was sharp. This was not the timorous performance of a player taking his first steps in a new league, in a new country, it certainly wasn't a player uncertain of whether he belongs at this level.
The midfielder was at the centre of an excellent performance by Andrews' side, who played as though every second ball belonged to them, as though every duel could have been decisive.
On 76 minutes, Sangare departed to a standing ovation, his new supporters clearly impressed with their first impressions. Perhaps the assist was the defining moment of his performance, but Sangare completed 28 of his 35 passes, including six line-breaking balls, while registering 13 defensive contributions.
His seven recoveries were the most by any Brentford player, his six successful ground duels ranked joint first, while he also drew three fouls, made two tackles, and registered two interceptions.
His tenacity and willingness to get involved set the tone for Brentford, with Sangare quick and comfortable to switch to the front-foot, while maintaining control and clearly relishing his Prem bow.
"That was as good a debut as I've seen for a long time," ex-Spurs midfielder Jamie Redknapp said on Sky Sports after the match. "Sangare looked so accomplished, so comfortable. He had a lot of freedom, but made it count.
"You don't need to be a sports scientist to realise that's an elite footballer who played tonight, and he can play for a top four club."
Of course, Sangare doesn't just become the signing of the season after one magnificent afternoon, but he's already proving himself to be a bargain after Brentford parted with a meagre £39 million to sign him from Racing Club de Lens, breaking their transfer record in the process.
While it was a historic outlay for Brentford, in the grander scheme of things, it wasn't a deal that raised eyebrows across the continent.
In a world where Arsenal parted with an initial £100 million to sign Declan Rice, Chelsea spent a combined £221.8 million for Moises Caicedo and Enzo Fernandez, a further £58 million for Romeo Lavia, while Manchester City spent £116 million on Elliot Anderson, Sangare has been signed in much shallower waters.
He cost roughly a third of Anderson's fee, less than half that commanded by Rice, Caicedo and Fernandez, yet it's not as though Brentford have stumbled across some unknown, obscure talent.
The 24-year-old was the outstanding African player in Ligue 1 last season - becoming the first Malian to win the Prix Marc-Vivien Foe (honouring the best African player in France) - and led the divisions for tackles won, while ranking third for successful duels.
After arriving from Rapid Vienna in 2025, he adapted quickly to life back in France, and underpinned a remarkable Lens campaign in which they finished second behind Paris Saint-Germain in Ligue 1.
In winning the award for the top African in Ligue 1 and then moving to England, he follows in the footsteps of the likes of Marouane Chamakh, Gervinho, Sofiane Boufal and Nicolas Pepe, all of whom struggled - to varying degrees - to translate their form in French football to genuine success, or at least sustained success, in England.
Andre Ayew enjoyed longevity in the UK after swapping Marseille for Swansea City in 2015, but did he really enjoy the career trajectory in the Premier League that was once expected of him amidst transfer rumours linking him to Liverpool and Arsenal...?
Sangare does follow in a productive France-to-England pathway that has carried central midfielders such as Idrissa Gueye, Abdoulaye Doucoure, N'Golo Kante and Yves Bissouma from Ligue 1 to the PL, each of whom translated their talents much more readily and consistently (if not permanently) to England.
In recent years, Brentford have a particularly strong track record for tackling that intersection between African talent and French football, with the likes of Said Benrahma, Bryan Mbeumo, and Yoane Wissa each arriving in England via the Bees before moving on for substantial profits.
Sangare may possess the foundations, and the ceiling, to surpass them all.
He's already an established international with Mali, having made his Africa Cup of Nations debut late last year, and becomes the latest in a long line of fine central midfielders to turn out for the Eagles, a tradition about which the West African nation are particularly proud.
Mohamed Sissoko, Mahamadou Diarra, Seydou Keita, Doucoure and Bissouma each graced the upper echelons of the European game, and Sangare - with his fine left foot, his authority, and his bite - the next in succession.
Tottenham was just the beginning, although it was a pertinent start given the visitors' own considerable outlay in midfield talent during the course of the window.
The contrast is brutal for Spurs.
They spent a combined £185 million on central midfielders Sandro Tonali and Matheus Fernandes, with the latter starting on the bench and the former surrendering possession far too readily on several occasions.
The contrast between one-time wonderkid Lucas Bergvall and Sangare was also stark, with Brentford's £39 million midfield marshal's debut even being enhanced in comparison to the expensive flops opposite.
Redknapp suggested that Brentford would be the "perfect place to develop" for the young midfielder, and he fits their model perfectly - identify talent, improve them, enjoy the fruits, sell at extensive profit.
If Saturday was anything to go by, then the Bees could feasibly double their money over the next 12 months... their recruitment department may already be launching the search for his replacement.
There's a cautionary tale here as well; football's circle of life.
The big-money midfielders that Sangare outshone on Saturday were replacements for another Mali midfielder, Bissouma, who was himself the shiny new toy in the heart of the Spurs midfield when he signed from Brighton for £30m four years ago.
By now, Bissouma, at 29, should be in his prime and featuring for a European heavyweight. Instead, he's uncertain whether he'll even have an employer heading into the new season, with his ascent curtailed by poor form, injury, and disciplinary problems.
Sangare may ultimately claim Mali captain Bissouma's place at international level. His greater challenge is ensuring that, when that invitation to one of Europe's giants does arrive, he's given himself the best chance of succeeding at the top level.