'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Football fans show eternal loyalty to their clubs and display their unshakable passion even when the team is having a bad time. According to Bill Shankly, football clubs have a holy trinity of players, managers and supporters. In this trinity, fans show the most support and passionately give their all. But, for players and managers, it is a different case.
Players and managers are tied to deals that are renewed based on their interest and success on the field. We know of a few players who contributed much to the success of their teams and helped to define eras. Their commitment to their clubs is akin to that of the supporters and these players are very few in number in history.
On the other hand, we also witnessed many superstars cutting ties with their clubs in controversial manner and becoming fans' enemies for eternity. These players either moved to a direct rival or against the interest of the club, thereby, incurring the anger of the fans. So, we look at five of these controversial transfers in the history of the beautiful game.
#5 Ashley Cole - Arsenal to Chelsea (2006)
Ashley Cole cannot be easily forgotten by Arsenal fans after six wonderful and productive years after his promotion from their youth team. But he is seen more as a betrayer who left their beloved club for a direct rival in 2006 than the player he developed into.
Cole was an established player who was integral to Arsenal. He was part of the team that went unbeaten in 2003-04. Apart from this, he won multiple honours with the club.
His relationship with the club quickly became sour in 2005-06 when news broke that he was involved in a transfer to Chelsea. The defender accused Arsenal of mistreating and undervaluing him as he was offered a contract of £55,000 per week. This made the fans name him Cashley because they felt he signed for Chelsea because of money.
Cole was heavily fined by the FA that season for misconduct and Chelsea were accused of illegal contact and tapping up of the player as the two parties met behind Arsenal.
He was forced to spend the rest of the season at the Emirates after reaching an agreement with Chelsea without the Gunners' approval. The following season, Cole moved to Chelsea but further incurred the wrath of the fans.
#4 Luis Figo - Barcelona to Real Madrid (2000)
Luis Figo was one of the best midfielders in the world when this extremely controversial move took place. He was an established player and fans’ favourite at Barcelona. He was so devoted to the club that no one would have thought in a million years that he would 'betray' the Catalans for Real Madrid.
When the Portuguese was rumoured to have signed for Los Blancos, he blatantly refused, restating his pledge to the club. He said:
"I want to reassure the fans that Luis Figo, with all certainty in the world, will be at the Camp Nou on July 24 to start the season.”
Figo had signed an underground agreement with Florentino Perez before July 24 as the future president of Real Madrid had promised the fans a statement signing and his first choice was the Portuguese.
Against the incumbent Lorenzo Sanz – a president under whom Madrid won two Champions League titles but found themselves in financial turmoil, Florentino Perez considered Figo as his best shot. So, he tactfully convinced the Portuguese into signing a pre-contract agreement with him.
When Perez won the presidency, Figo was left in limbo as he would pay a compensation of €26 million if he declined to play for Real Madrid. Some account stated however that the Portuguese pleaded with the Barcelona president to pay the penalty but he refused.
Figo moved to Real Madrid as a result of this but he was never as happy as he was in Barcelona. He was somehow remorseful in Real Madrid for the circumstances of his departure but the fans never cared. They held their grudge forever.
The hatred towards the player was evident as the fans didn’t hide their frustration with him and at the same time, launched a pig's head at him in the El Clasico.
#3 Robin van Persie - Arsenal to Manchester United (2012)
Robin van Persie was a fantastic player who was also a fan favourite at Arsenal. He was injury-prone but, despite the fact, became the most important player at the Emirates after Cesc Fabregas' departure. He became the captain of the team and single-handedly won games for the club.
Because of Van Persie's injury record, he usually spent more time on the doctor's table. However, he was loved by the fans and he too loved the club. So, nobody would believe leaving Arsenal was an option for him. Especially to a direct rival.
In 2012, the Dutchman held a showdown meeting with the coach and the board to determine his future at the club. After the meeting, Van Persie decided that it was time to move on as his goals were not in tandem with that of the club owners.
Van Persie's last season was one of his best in North London as he was injury free and carried the team on his shoulders. So, when he was departing, the fans were infuriated. Worse still is that he chose to move to a direct rival - Manchester United.
Arsenal fans felt betrayed and termed him a traitor because they stood by him during his injury crisis. So, they expected more loyalty.
Moving to the Theatre of Dreams that season, Van Persie continued his outstanding form and was able to win the Red Devils their 20th league title to the dismay of the Arsenal faithful. On top of that, he displaced Wayne Rooney that season and was the highest goal scorer in the team.
To further infuriate the Arsenal fans after the hostile reception he had been receiving, the Dutchman exuberantly celebrated a goal scored against his former team in the Theatre of Dreams which won United the league in his first campaign.
#2 Sol Campbell - Tottenham Hotspur to Arsenal (2001)
Judas. That is what Sol Campbell is to the Tottenham faithful to this day. His transfer from the team to Arsenal provoked great anger among the fans. He betrayed them by moving to an eternal rival.
Campbell was a centre-back who came through the ranks at Tottenham before playing in the first team. He played in the first team for nine years and even earned the captain's armband. So, leaving their beloved team for Arsenal was too much for the fans to take.
The enigmatic defender at a time proclaimed that he would never join the Gunners. But when a footballer makes such a statement, it calls for a rethink. In search of Champions League football, the central defender moved to the Emirates in order to fulfill his dream but this earned him the wrath of Spurs fans.
Campbell’s move in 2001 on a free transfer was a surprise to everyone, even to the reporters at the press conference, who thought they were witnessing the unveiling of Richard Wright.
Though, it was a good move for Campbell as he was able to win silverware with the Gunners. However, he was never forgiven by Spurs.
#1 John Obi Mikel - Lyn Oslo to Chelsea (2006)
John Obi Mikel's arrival in England was one of the most controversial transfers in football history. It took a year before the saga came to an end after compensation was paid to Manchester United and Lynn Oslo by Chelsea.
The Nigerian prodigy was a talented player spotted by both Chelsea and Manchester United even before he arrived in Europe. After impressing at the FIFA Under-17 World Cup, he was invited by United, who were desperate to sign him.
Despite training with the team and having been enticed by Sir Alex Ferguson, the club did not conclude a deal with the youngster.
After his trial, Chelsea stepped into the fray and when Mikel signed his contract with Oslo, there was already an agreement between Chelsea and Lyn Oslo about any future sales.
When United returned for Mikel after turning 18 and signing his first professional contract with Lyn Oslo, it was already late. However, Mikel signed a contract with them and was even photographed in a United shirt.
It wasn’t until he had signed for the Red Devils that he found out that there was an agreement between his club and Chelsea about his sales.
So, a legal tussle began between the two clubs over the Nigerian prodigy. Mikel did not appear in any club football activity for a year because of this. When he reappeared, he proclaimed his desire to play for Chelsea after meeting with the then Premier League chief, Sir Dave Richards, and told him his intention.
After the meeting, Chelsea paid £4m to Lyn Oslo and £12m to Manchester United as compensations. Mikel went on to make 374 appearances for Chelsea and won many trophies with the club.
