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Yeah, quid pro quo literally means "one thing for another thing". The ambiguity of the "for" led to divergent evolutions.

The "pro" (for) can be either mean "instead of", "in the place of" (One thing in the place of another thing). This is where the interpretation currently used in Italy and possibly other places settled on.

But "pro" (for) also means "for the benefit of" and that's the interpretation that caught on in the Anglosphere.

I liked that when a major person in Italian organized crime was arrested, US newspapers called him a “capo dei capi” while Italian newspapers called him a “boss dei boss”.

For example, here’s a book using that title

https://m.libreriauniversitaria.it/amp/product/BIT/978887928...

The subject of the book is also featured in an Italian TV show using the title Il Capo Dei Capo: https://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Il_capo_dei_capi

Hannibal Lecter, being anglosaxon, uses it for "a favor for a favor". When in doubt, I always side with the cannibal.

That is bizarre indeed.