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When a player returns to their former club, every fan in the stadium has their eyes on him. If the player left his former club as a legend, then every fan cheers him when he returns. But if he left the club in a bad way, then every fan in that stadium hopes for his failure and boos him at every opportunity. It's very hard for the fans to witness a former player kick their team out of a key competition, but that's how life is, it always gives you a second shot at glory. Many unforgettable returns have taken place over the last few years and here we discuss the very best of them.
Here are the 5 players who came back to haunt their previous clubs.
#5 Mario Gotze
In the summer of 2013, a controversial transfer of Mario Gotze from Borussia Dortmund to Bayern Munich was announced, much to the shock of everyone. Gotze had been brilliant for Borussia Dortmund since then and he had established himself as one of the best talents in the world at that point of time and he was considered by many to be one of the talents of the generation but that didn't materialize.
Gotze left Borussia Dortmund for their bitter rivals Bayern Munich much to the fury of the Signal Iduna Park. On his first return to Dortmund with Bayern Munich, Gotze scored ten minutes after coming off the bench and he didn't celebrate, but he was jeered by his former supporters very hard which was expected. But, Borussia Dortmund fans had the last laugh as Gotze's career at Munich never took off and he had returned to his former club to get more opportunities.
#4 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Considering the number of clubs that Zlatan Ibrahimovic has played for, it was inevitable that Zlatan came back to haunt at least on them and he exactly did that with Inter Milan. After spending two years at Inter Milan, Zlatan joined Barcelona but his problems with the then Barcelona manager, Pep Guardiola, meant that his career at Barcelona never really took off.
He then returned to the Serie A but for Inter's bitter rivals AC Milan, much to the dismay of the Inter Milan fans. Zlatan returned to his previous club and scored the penalty that gave AC Milan the win in the heated derby. Inter fans were left furious and it was felt around the whole stadium. But no one can do much when the self proclaimed God of football plays at his full flow against you.
#3 Robin Van Persie
Arsenal have a history of selling their best players to rival clubs and it was really a given that it would come back to haunt them. Van Persie left Arsenal for Manchester United to get his hands on a Premier League trophy and he did that.W
Van Persie had already scored twice against Arsenal in his first season at Old Trafford, but he didn't celebrate any of those two goals in respect. Still, he was continuously jeered by Arsenal fans which he clearly didn't like. So, the next time Van Persie visited Arsenal, he scored and celebrated in front of his former fans which left them infuriated. Van Persie had the last laugh as he won the Premier League title in his first season at Old Trafford, something he couldn't do in years at the Emirates.
#2 Emmanuel Adebayor
Emmanuel Adebayor was destined for great things at Arsenal after he scored 24 goals in the 2007/8 season of the Premier League. But he left Arsenal for Manchester City for the 2009/10 season, much to the fury of Arsenal fans. This transfer came as shock to many as Adebayor was looking brilliant for Arsenal and was scoring important goals for the Gunners.B
But when Adebayor returned with Manchester City to Arsenal, he scored and his celebration was one full of disrespect for the Gunners faithful. He ran the full ground to celebrate his goal which just showed the respect he had for his former supporters and this left Arsenal fans infuriated. As far as celebrations against former teams go, this has to be one of the best of them.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo
Cristiano Ronaldo left Old Trafford on a sour note, but he enjoyed his one of the best years with Manchester United. He left the club for the Los Blancos for the 2009/10 season. Cristiano Ronaldo by then was considered a legend at Old Trafford.
So, when he returned to his former club with Real Madrid for the second leg of the Champions League quarter final, he was cheered by his former supporters. Cristiano Ronaldo scored the winner of that tie at Old Trafford to knock Manchester United out of the Champions League and he didn't celebrate. What could be noted was that he had tears in his eyes after he scored that goal which just shows you the respect he had for Manchester United. When he walled off that stadium, Manchester United sang his song 'Viva Ronaldo' to bid their superstar an emotional goodbye.
