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In football, it's quite rare to see rival clubs selling players to each other. Depending on the intensity of the rivalry, the chances of deals between competing clubs could be as low as zero. Nevertheless, we've witnessed a couple of cases in recent years, which saw some top players switch between two rival teams.
One recent example is Bayern Munich centre-back Niklas Sule. The German has reached an agreement with Borussia Dortmund to switch to Signal Iduna Park when his contract with the Bavarians expires in the summer. It is believed both parties have come to terms on a four-year deal that will see the player go home with €10 million annually.
Following the news of the 26-year-old's potential switch to Dortmund, we've been inspired to look back in time and recall similar transfers from the past. On that note, we present to you five of the top players who have joined rival teams over the years. They are as follows:
#5 David Luiz
The Brazilian defender had two spells at Chelsea, the first of which came between 2011 and 2014 after he joined the Blues from Benfica. His second stint lasted between 2016 and 2019 after he returned to Stamford Bridge from Paris Saint-Germain.
Immediately after his second spell with the Premier League giants, David Luiz pulled off a shocking transfer to join Chelsea's London rivals Arsenal. The centre-back spent two years at the Emirates Stadium before leaving London to join Flamengo in his home country.
During his time in England, the Brazilian made 213 appearances in the Premier League, with 160 of them coming for Chelsea and 53 coming for the Gunners. He also recorded a combined 14 goals and eight assists to his name in the English top flight while playing for the two rival clubs.
#4 Robin van Persie
Robin van Persie joined Arsenal from Eredivisie outfit Feyenoord in the summer of 2004. The striker became a fan favorite at the Emirates Stadium, bagging 132 goals and 58 assists for the Gunners in 278 appearances in all competitions.
The Dutchman surprisingly ended his spell with the London-based side in the summer of 2012, joining league rivals Manchester United in a deal worth £24 million. He enjoyed another remarkable spell at Old Trafford, inspiring the Red Devils to claim the Premier League title in 2012-13, with his return of 26 goals and 15 assists.
#3 Robert Lewandowski
Bayern Munich striker Robert Lewandowski is also one of the few players in football history who has managed to seal moves to rival teams during his career. The Polish forward joined the Bavarians from their arch-rivals Borussia Dortmund, whom he represented between 2010 and 2014.
Lewandowski's time at Signal Iduna Park proved to be quite impressive as he won two Bundesliga titles, one German Cup and one German Super Cup. He also bagged an incredible 103 goals and 42 assists in 187 appearances.
Nevertheless, his decision to leave the BVB to join Bayern Munich has proven to be a step forward. The Polishman has established himself as among the finest players in the world at the Allianz Arena, winning the FIFA Best Player of the Year award twice.
He's also won multiple honors, including one Champions League crown, seven Bundesliga titles and three German Cups, to mention just a few.
#2 Andrea Pirlo
The Italian is another great example of a top player who completed a transfer to a rival team in football. The said transfer took place in the summer of 2011, when he cut ties with AC Milan to join Juventus as a free agent.
Prior to the move, the legendary midfielder had spent a whopping 10 years at San Siro, where he made 401 appearances bagging 41 goals and 70 assists. According to rumors, he was allowed to leave as the club believed he was already past his prime. Interestingly, Pirlo had also represented AC Milan's local rival Inter between 1998 and 2001.
The Rossoneri certainly regretted letting go of Pirlo. The midfielder helped Juventus displace them off the perch of Italian football in his very first season in Turin. He would go on to play 164 games for the Old Lady, bagging 19 goals and 38 assists.
#1 Luis Figo
Arguably the most controversial transfer of all time, Luis Figo left Barcelona to join their arch-rivals Real Madrid in the summer of 2000. The Catalan giants were against selling the Portuguese but Los Blancos decided to trigger his release clause worth a whopping €60 million.
The deal heightened the bitterness of the rivalry between the two clubs and several controversial episodes followed. In one of them, a pig's head was thrown at Figo during a match against the Blaugrana at Camp Nou.
The Portuguese star bagged 56 goals and 93 assists for Los Blancos in 245 appearances before leaving for Inter Milan on a free transfer in 2005. His record with Barcelona, meanwhile, stands at 45 goals and 58 assists in 248 games.
