5 controversial transfers in club Football

With barely six weeks to go for the start of yet another gripping season of club football, the transfer market is heating up with all the big clubs willing to go all out to acquire the services of some of the worlds best footballers. In the past there have been many controversial transfers with some idolized players parting ways with their former clubs and accepting lucrative offers frombitter rivals. Let us take a look at some of the most controversial transfers in football.

#5 Sol Campbell (Tottenham Hotspur to Arsenal)

English footballer Sol Campbell shocked the Tottenham Hotspur faithful by moving to bitter rivals Arsenal on a free transfer in July 2001. He signed a four year contract with Tottenham’s North London adversaries after having rejected a new contract from Spurs.

In an earlier interview, Campbell had said that “he would never play for Arsenal”, and it was reported that he chose Arsenal despite the fact that many big clubs on the continent were interested in his services.

Following his move, Campbell was subjected to taunts by the Tottenham supporters, and is called “Judas” by them. He has also had homophobic abuse targeted at him.

#4 Carlos Tevez (Manchester United to Manchester City)

Manchester United fans were infuriated when the Argentine international Carlos Tevez signed a contract with bitter rivals Manchester City, thus becoming only the second player to do so after Terry Cooke in 1999.

Tevez was disappointed with his limited role in the 2008/09 season but his move to Manchester City came as a surprise to the United faithful.

Add to that City’s growing clout in the Premier League and his involvement in the infamous “Welcome to Manchester” billboard, the powerful striker was always seen as the enemy in all his future appearances against the Red Devils.

#3 Roberto Baggio (Fiorentina to Juventus)

In 1990, Italian star footballer Roberto Baggio was sold to Juventus, one of Fiorentina’s biggest rivals, for a fee of €10 million, a world record at that time.

The controversial transfer led to a fiery outburst from Fiorentina fans, with riots breaking out in the streets of Florence. Moreover, Baggio’s reported comments of him being compelled to accept the transfer increased the intensity of the outbursts.

In a match between Fiorentina and Juventus in April 1991, the Italian star refused to take a penalty kick, justifying that the opposition goalkeeper Mareggini knew him too well. Following that, his replacement missed the penalty, and Juventus lost the match. Needless to say, Baggio was in a sticky situation for some time to come after that.

#2 Robin Van Persie (Arsenal to Manchester United)

• Former Arsenal captain Robin van Persie accepted a shocking move to bitter rivals Manchester United in 2012 for a fee of £24 miliion on a four year contract. United beat out interest from Manchester City and Juventus to secure his signature.
• The talismanic Netherlands forward, who netted 132 goals in 277 games for the Gunners was treasured by Arsenal fans, but left them in dismay and grief when he chose to move to Old Trafford. Following the move, he openly said that he decided to move because of differences in vision for the future at Arsenal.

#1 Luis Figo (Barcelona to Real Madrid)

Barcelona fans might never forgive nor forget Luis Figo for his decision to join their biggest rivals Real Madrid in the summer of 2000 for a then world record fee of $60.1 million. The move was condemned widely throughout Catalonia, and made Figo the biggest enemy in the public eye. To make matters worse, the brilliant Portuguese playmaker’s career skyrocketed while at Real and he earned even more distinction donning the Los Blancos jersey.

The El-Clasico in Nou Camp, Barcelona, on October 2000, saw him get a very hostile reception, with him being booed loudly, banners describing the extent of their hatred displayed all through the stadium and things thrown at him whenever he went close to the audience. This vitriolic reception continued for the next few years, and it reached its zenith in 2002 when the things thrown at him included a pig’s head.