A lot of people - myself included - had qualms with paying £4m for a 33 year old who wasn't going to play much and definitely wasn't going to stay if we got promoted. His Sunderland background didn't help him at the start too.
It's not often at all in this scenario that the move would work out so well for both parties, and that's not only down to Rafa and his excellent management, but the player himself and his fantastic attitude.