Rennes missed out on Champions League qualification by just three points last season as they finished fourth in Ligue 1.
Despite Martin Terrier and Gaetan Laborde hitting 29 league goals between them, Bruno Genesio's men will have to make do with Europa League football in 2022/23.
Their fans shouldn't be too disappointed - that fourth-placed finish represents Rennes' second-best return in 15 years after all.
However, had they not parted company with any of the fabulous young talent they've helped develop over the last decade, then Rennes could have established themselves as Champions League regulars by now.
To illustrate this point, the folks over at Transfermarkt recently put together a potential Rennes XI if they hadn't sold any of their top stars - and we must admit to having been a little surprised ourselves at the overall quality on show.
GK: Edouard Mendy (sold to Chelsea, Sept 2020 - £21.6 million)
Since making the switch to Stamford Bridge less than two years ago, Mendy had established himself as one of the game's top 'keepers.
The 30-year-old scooped the Champions League in his first season in west London and was named The Best FIFA men's goalkeeper last year.
PORTO, PORTUGAL - MAY 29: Edouard Mendy of Chelsea celebrates with the Champions League Trophy following their team's victory in the UEFA Champions League Final between Manchester City and Chelsea FC at Estadio do Dragao on May 29, 2021 in Porto, Portugal. (Photo by Manu Fernandez - Pool/Getty Images)
LB: Ramy Bensebaini (sold to Borussia Mönchengladbach, Aug 2019 - £7.2m)
A regular for his native Algeria, Bensebaini has made 83 appearances for Mönchengladbach over the past three seasons, including outings in the Champions League.
CB: Nayef Aguerd (sold to West Ham, July 2022 - £31.5m)
Having impressed for both Rennes and Morocco in recent seasons, Aguerd landed a move to West Ham earlier this month.
His time with the Premier League side could certainly have begun better, though. An ankle injury sustained in a pre-season friendly against Rangers required surgery and looks set to rule him out for at least three months.
CB: Loïc Badé (still at club)
A star of the future for Rennes, Badé already has three U21 caps for France under his belt and is tipped for greater things over the next few years.
Premier League 1990s quiz: Can you name these 40 players?
RB: Hamari Traoré (still at club, captain)
With more than 200 first-team appearances for Rennes to his credit, Mali international Traoré has been a key figure at the club for a many seasons now.
However, with his current deal up at the end of the 2022/23 season, even the Rennes captain could soon be on the move.
DM: Eduardo Camavinga (sold to Real Madrid, Aug 2021 - £27.9m)
Camavinga has to be happy with his first season at the Bernabeu. A regular in Carlo Ancelotti's side, the young Frenchman picked up three trophies in the Spanish capital, including the La Liga title and Champions League crown.
MADRID, SPAIN - MAY 04: Eduardo Camavinga of Real Madrid CF gives back a cell phone to the audience as he celebrates his team´s victory after during the UEFA Champions League Semi Final Leg Two match between Real Madrid and Manchester City at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on May 04, 2022 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Gonzalo Arroyo Moreno/Getty Images)
DM: Abdoulaye Doucouré (sold to Watford, Feb 2016 - £9.54m)
After departing Rennes in 2016, Doucouré went on to feature 141 times for Watford, before moving to Everton in a £20m deal.
He's played more often than not since arriving on Merseyside too, racking up 59 Premier League appearances for the Toffees.
LW: Ousmane Dembélé (sold to Borussia Dortmund, July 2016, £31.5m)
The £31.5m that Rennes received for Dembélé from Dortmund remains their joint-highest record transfer fee received. However, within barely 12 months, the French winger would be on the move again - this time to Barcelona for a monstrous £126m.
His time at Camp Nou has definitely been a mixed bag, although he did recently opt to sign a one-year extension to remain a Barca player.
La Blaugrana won't be recovering their nine-figure transfer outlay for the player, but he remains a useful operator at his best.
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MAY 25: Ousmane Dembele of FC Barcelona looks on during the match between FC Barcelona and the A-League All Stars at Accor Stadium on May 25, 2022 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)
RW: Raphinha (sold to Leeds United, Oct 2020, £16.74m)
Raphinha's move to Elland Road saw him quickly establish himself as one of the most talented young wingers in the world.
A call-up to the Brazilian national side was inevitable given his electric form for the Whites. That same form saw him secure a dream move to Barcelona earlier this month, where he already looks very much at home.
CAM: Lovro Majer (still at club)
Already attracting the attention of some of Europe's biggest clubs, creative midfielder Majer had a strong debut season with Rennes in 2021/22. The Croatian international scored six goals and bagged eight assists as he impressed all at the club.
ST: Mathys Tel (sold to Bayern Munich, July 2022, £16.74m)
Tel never managed to score a senior goal for Rennes, but the 17-year-old's potential alone was enough to convince Bayern to agree a fee that could rise to as much as £23.85m.
The initial transfer fee of £16.74m would still make Tel the 5th most expensive 17-year-old in the history of the game, behind only the likes of Jadon Sancho, Alexandre Pato and Jude Bellingham.
Bayern have some serious confidence in their new young recruit.
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