5 stars who played for AC Milan, Inter Milan and Juventus

The
The big three

Serie A, the major Italian football league has been around for more than a century but just three clubs have managed to maintain a stranglehold on it since its inception. They are Messieurs Inter, Milan and Juve.

These three clubs have clinched the league title in 70 of the 114 seasons played thus far. This dominance has increased further since the turn of the millennium, as Roma were the last side aside from these three to win the Serie A which was back in 2001.

Due to their supremacy in Italy, most of the elite players ply their trade at these clubs. Some truly historic players have played in Milan and Turin over the years like Zinedine Zidane, Paolo Maldini and Alessandro Del Piero.

Many of these players have actually played at all three clubs, something which is rare to see in European leagues. On that note, here are 5 players who played for Milan, Inter and Juventus.

#5 Patrick Vieira

US Citta di Palermo v FC Inter Milan - Serie A
Vieira won most of his Italian silverware at Inter

Vieira is prominently remembered for his marauding displays at Arsenal where he enjoyed great success. His time in Italy is not recognised to that extent.

He appeared for Milan in the very beginning when he was a just a teenager. Vieira managed just 5 appearances in the 1995-96 season, before Arsenal signed him for £3.5 million to couple his arrival with the one of Arsene Wenger.

After a lengthy spell in London, he moved to Juventus in 2005. Wenger said the main reason for Vieira's departure was to enable the development of Fabregas. Vieira had a successful first season in Turin as they won the league title.

However, match-fixing allegations against Juventus were proved correct and they were stripped of the title and were relegated. Vieira jumped ship, signing for Inter Milan. He won four successive league titles at the San Siro, despite his limited involvment.

#4 Giuseppe Meazza

Meazz
Meazza is considered as one of the best Italian players ever

Meazza is one of the best players Italy has produced - if not the best - and it may seem poetic justice that he played for all three major clubs.

He played at Inter for most of his career, and he was at the club from 1927 to 1940. Meazza is the fourth-highest scorer in the Serie A with 216 goals, majority of which came at Inter. He won two World Cups with Italy during that period, captaining his country in one and winning the Golden Ball in the other.

After injuries hit him in 1940, he moved to Milan and played there for two seasons. Then he moved yet again, to Juventus for a solitary season. Leaving Turin, he played for a couple of other Italian clubs before retiring in 1947 at Inter, ending a career that spanned over two decades.

#3 Roberto Baggio

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Baggio was at his best in a Juventus shirt

One of the images which come to mind when you think of Roberto Baggio is his penalty miss in the 1994 World Cup final, which is a travesty, considering his legacy.

Baggio came to the fore at Fiorentina, a wiry youngster with a knack for scoring and creating. Juventus signed him in 1990, and it was at the Old Lady where he enjoyed the most fruitful time of his club career. He scored 115 goals in five seasons at Juve, winning a single league title.

But Alessandro Del Piero's emergence in Turin paved the exit door for Baggio. He signed for Milan amidst protests from Juventus fans. Changing his position, Baggio became a playmaker and lead his side to the Scudetto.

However, the success was measured as fitness and chemistry issues dwindled his playing time in successive seasons. He moved to Inter in 1998, but fitness problems never really allowed him to succeed.

Baggio revived his career with minnows Brescia after his spell at Inter and subsequently retired in 2004.

#2 Andrea Pirlo

Juventus v FC Barcelona  - UEFA Champions League Final
Pirlo's last Italian outfit was Juventus

Pirlo began his career at Brescia, leading them to promotion back in 1997. He was bought by Inter in 1998 but was loaned out to Brescia as he was unable to break into the first time. During his loan spell, he was used as a deep-lying playmaker for the first time, a decision which would shape his career.

The Italian switched to neighbours Milan in 2001 and his career took off. Coach Carlo Ancelotti put Pirlo in a deep position and he excelled. He won two Champions League titles and two league titles in Milan, along with a host of other silverware.

He emerged as an elite midfielder in Milan, winning many individual accolades. In 2011 he moved to Juventus on a free transfer, a deal which was one of the biggest bargains in recent history.

Pirlo helped Juve capture four successive Scudettos as they began their domination which has not waned until now. He left for New York City in 2015, after dazzling the Serie A for more than fifteen years.

#1 Zlatan Ibrahimovic

AC Milan v ACF Fiorentina  - Serie A
Ibrahimovic was at his best in Milan

Zlatan is arguably the player who had an even impact at all three of the clubs, unlike some on this list. The Swede has travelled many times on the continent and stopped in Italy three times.

Juventus signed him in 2004 after his performances for Ajax in the Eredivisie. He was in Turin for two seasons and left them due to the match-fixing allegations and relegation like the aforementioned Vieira.

Inter signed him for about €24 million, and his goals propelled them to three successive league titles. Barcelona came calling in 2009, and he moved to Spain for a huge fee of £59 million. He could not stay there for long, however, as his relationship with coach Pep Guardiola turned sour.

He moved back to Italy, this time to Milan. Goals followed, 56 of them in two seasons along with his fourth Serie A title. PSG signed him in 2012 to bring the curtain down on his time in Italy.

Ibrahimovic has never been known for his loyalty, but his tremendous ability was on display at all three major Italian outfits.

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Edited by Sripad