5 transfers that transformed the fortunes of a club

Leeds United v West Bromwich Albion - Premier League
Leeds United v West Bromwich Albion - Premier League

#3 Didier Drogba's transfer to Chelsea

Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur - Capital One Cup Final
Chelsea v Tottenham Hotspur - Capital One Cup Final

Didier Drogba is one of the most notable names in Chelsea history. The Ivorian repeatedly dropped masterclasses as he played a massive role in the Blues' rise in the early 2000s.

He signed for Chelsea in 2004 from Marseille and although he endured a very difficult debut campaign, he still managed to score 16 goals in all competitions. Drogba helped the club to their first-ever Premier League title and their first English top-flight championship title in 50 years.

Drogba began the following campaign in superb fashion as he helped Chelsea to a 2-1 win over Arsenal, scoring both goals. With him leading the line, the Blues managed to retain the league title, making them the second-ever team to do so in the Premier League era.

He then went on to win the Premier League Golden Boot in his third season at Chelsea, with 20 goals to his name. Although the London club failed to win the league, they managed to win both domestic cups, with Drogba scoring in both finals. He was voted into the PFA Premier League Team of the Year and finished runner-up in the PFA Player of the Year award.

The Ivorian striker went on to win eight more trophies for the Blues while picking up numerous individual accolades along the way. His finest moment in a Chelsea shirt came in 2012 when he led them to a first-ever Champions League title. He leveled the scores for his side in the 88th minute to take the game into extra-time and later, penalties. Drogba then went on to take the winning penalty to give Chelsea the win.

In 2012, Drogba was voted Chelsea's greatest ever player in a club magazine poll by thousands of fans.

#2 Cristiano Ronaldo's transfer to Real Madrid

Real Madrid v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Final
Real Madrid v Liverpool - UEFA Champions League Final

Cristiano Ronaldo is undoubtedly one of the greatest players to ever play the beautiful game, if not the greatest outright. His rise to the very top of the football pyramid came at Real Madrid, where he also managed to return the declining Spanish side to their peak.

Ronaldo signed with Los Blancos in 2009 for €94 million. The move saw him become the most expensive footballer ever at the time. The Portuguese scored 33 goals in his debut campaign; his only season with Real Madrid which saw him fail to hit the 40-goal mark. The club, however, ended the campaign trophyless.

The following season, Ronaldo scored 53 goals and lifted his first piece of silverware at Real Madrid - the Copa del Rey. He took it up a notch in his third season, scoring 60 goals in all competitions. That helped the Bernabeu outfit to a first La Liga title in four years.

Real Madrid pride themselves on their unrivaled European glory. However, the Bernabeu side last lifted the Champions League trophy in 2002 and had been eliminated from the semifinals of the competition three consecutive times by 2013. In 2013-14, Ronaldo helped them to 'La Decima' with 17 goals in the competition; a record that stands till date.

Over the next four seasons, Real Madrid won the Champions League trophy thrice more, with Ronaldo finishing as the tournament's top scorer for a sixth consecutive time. He scored 198 goals in all competitions for them during that period.

With 15 trophies won and countless individual achievements, Cristiano Ronaldo is without an iota of doubt the greatest player in the history of Real Madrid.

#1 Eric Cantona's transfer to Manchester United

Eric Cantona Manchester United
Eric Cantona Manchester United

Eric Cantona was a highly controversial player but there was no controversy when it came to his sheer ability. With an aura some perceived as arrogance, the player strutted the stage at Old Trafford. The Frenchman was an outstanding player; he knew that and made sure everyone else did too.

When Cantona signed for Manchester United in 1992, Alex Ferguson's men were in dire need of self-belief and goals. The club sat eighth in the Premier League table and scored 14 goals in 15 games. Cantona quickly sorted that out, both by scoring goals and creating chances for his teammates.

Manchester United lost just two league games after Cantona's arrival and were comfortably clear by 10 points at the top of the table by season's end. He had helped the Red Devils to their first league title in 26 years.

In Cantona's second season, Manchester United secured back-to-back Premier League titles. He also helped the club to an FA Cup trophy, scoring two goals in the final against Chelsea. He finished as Manchester United's top scorer with 25 goals in all competitions and was voted PFA Player of the Year.

The famous 'kung-fu' incident came in his third season at United and largely halted his rise at the club. However, he managed to pick up two more Premier League medals and another FA Cup trophy alongside some personal accolades.

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