A look at 5 of the most thrilling transfer sagas of all time 

#2 Luis Figo to Real Madrid, 2000

Luis Figo in action against Barcelona

This is often regarded as the most controversial transfer in the history of football and the layers to this transfer are manifold.

First, the clubs involved are bitter rivals and the player; Figo was the best player at Barcelona at the time and through a show of political will, cunning and economic might, Real Madrid managed to deliver a blow to their rivals.

Florentino Perez, who was seeking an election to the post of Real's presidency had made an announcement that sounded ridiculous at the time; he announced that if he failed to sign Figo, then he would give a refund to season ticket holders.

However, he wasn't batting blind and had, in fact, signed a secret pre-contract with Figo that stipulated that the player would have to pay €26m if he did not sign for Los Blancos following Perez's victory in the elections.

The game was afoot and Barcelona fans were reassured when Figo himself stated, "I want to reassure fans that Luis Figo, with all the certainty in the world, will be at the Camp Nou on July 24 to start the season”.

However, Perez won and the unthinkable happened as Figo signed for Barcelona's rivals in a move worth €62m. That day in 2000, the rivalry between the two clubs became a far more personal affair.