The big six clubs in England are often not too inclined towards doing deals with each other involving certain players. Of course, there have been times when they have struck deals and have allowed their players to leave for direct rivals, one way or another. And while these cases are rare, they have certainly transpired.
And the trio of Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Manchester City, in recent times, have only increased their reputation of being proper top six clubs and it’s no coincidence that they fall under the bracket of being one of the most influential clubs in the world. The fact that they finish around each other and are at each other’s throats for somehow coming close to winning the title makes them rivals that vie for a common goal.
Despite being prominent rivals, Tottenham have sold one of their prized assets - Kyle Walker to Manchester City. It hasn’t happened too many times in the past that the Lilywhites have sold one of their best players to one of their rivals in Manchester. And we run the rule over players who went from wearing the white of Spurs to donning the blue or the red of the Manchester clubs.
#5 Chris McGrath
Chris McGrath is one of those former Tottenham players who came through the academy at Enfield and then ended up joining Manchester United someday later in their career.
Having joined Spurs as an apprentice back in 1972, McGrath climbed up the pecking order throughout his three-year spell and spent a loan stint at Millwall in the 1975-76 campaign. That wasn't enough to convince his club into keeping him at White Hart Lane, but Manchester United came calling in 1976. The Red Devils were playing only their second season in the first division of England and shelled out £30,000 to acquire the Northern Irishman's services.
The winger's stint at Old Trafford didn't last too long and he made only 38 appearances over a period of five campaigns.
#4 Chris Jones
The largely unknown striker, who never played for the national team but made a single appearance for the Under-21 outfit, was a Spurs apprentice before breaking into the first team soon after 1973.
Having played for around nine years at White Hart Lane; a stint that saw the Englishman make over 180 appearances for Spurs from 1973 to 1982 and endure relegation with the club and come back up after a single season, Jones sealed a move to Manchester City in 1982 for a £110,000 deal. The move to the Maine Road though, could never work out well and Jones could appear only three times for the Citizens, before sold to Crystal Palace in the same year.
He went onto play for Charlton Athletic and made over a 100 appearances for Leyton Orient as well, a club he joined in 1984 and spent a couple of years at.
#3 Teddy Sheringham
The new Atletico Kolkata boss has played for both Manchester United and Tottenham and it was during his stint at Old Trafford that he won the European Cup in 1999.
It was in 1997 that Sheringham left Spurs for a £3.5 million fee, after forging an impressive strike-partnership with Jurgen Klinsmann at White Hart Lane. United though, brought him in to replace the retired Eric Cantona and while Sheringham was around 31 when he joined, he always came up with vital goals for the club from Greater Manchester.
Remarkably so, the Englishman is also famously known for scoring United’s first goal against Bayern Munich in the historic, dramatic European Cup final of 1999.
As ironic as it sounds, Sheringham left United and rejoined Tottenham on a free transfer following the expiration of his Old Trafford contract.
#2 Dimitar Berbatov
Dimitar Berbatov has gone down in history as one of the most coolest strikers ever. He wasn't the most hardworking player, but his skill on the ball and the ability to find the back of the net regularly nullified the need for that perfectly.
Berbatov spent two seasons at Spurs, scoring 27 times in 70 appearances since joining. The performances were good enough to attract Manchester United's attention in 2008 and the Red Devils ended up roping him in on the deadline day of 2008's summer transfer window.
The Bulgarian soon became a vital part of a devastating forward line that comprised of Wayne Rooney, Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo. In the 2010-11 campaign, Berbatov made up for Rooney's absence and the new Everton signing's lack of form by winning the Golden Boot and also played a role in United’s 19th Premier League title.
After falling out of favour at Old Trafford in 2012 though, Berbatov sealed a move to Premier League strugglers Fulham and later played for Monaco as well.
#1 Michael Carrick
The newly appointed Manchester United skipper is one of the best midfielders England has produced in recent times and while his journey began at West Ham United in around the mid-90s, Carrick ended up at United from Tottenham.
He joined Manchester United from Spurs in 2006 and was tipped to act as a proper replacement for the long-gone Roy Keane. Sir Alex shelled out a fee in the region of £14 million for the England international and Carrick gradually developed into a classy midfield controller, by playing alongside the likes of Paul Scholes and Ryan Giggs in the heart of the park.
Still a part of United's side under Jose Mourinho, Carrick is one of the many former Tottenham players that Lilywhites fans regret selling to United and would jump at the opportunity to travel back in time and keep him at White Hart Lane.
