Top 5 players who played for Chelsea and Barcelona

In the vast world of club football, Chelsea and Barcelona are regarded as two of the biggest heavyweights, thanks to their trophy cabinets. Both the Nou Camp and Stamford Bridge have their heads held up high due to the glittering histories they boast about.

Both clubs are known to have starkly different mentalities in terms of the players they bring to their clubs. The Spanish giants are known to develop young prospects into world-class players while Roman Abrahamovic has revolutionized the Londoners after making a reputation for being a heavy spender in the transfer market.

Hence, the aims at both the clubs might be the same. But, the ways to achieve them have no affinity with each other. Chelsea are used to playing an exciting brand of attacking football based on pace. Barcelona, on the other hand, are used to being more technical in terms of the style of play, emphasizing on possession-based play.

In this slideshow, we rank the top five players who have shown their versatility by adjusting easily in these clubs with philosophies that are poles apart from each other.

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#5: Eidur Gudjohnsen

Gudjohnsen won more silverware at Barcelona as compared to Chelsea

Icelandic forward Eidur Gudjohsen joined the Blues in a £4.5 million deal to partner Dutchman Jimmy Floyd-Hasselbaink on the front. The duo earned a wide reputation as one of the deadliest duos to grace the Premier League. In a six-year stint from 2000 to 2006, Gudjohnsen appeared 263 times and netted 78 times for the Londoners.

The prolific forward swapped his club with Spanish giants, Barcelona, in a £8 million transfer to replace Henrikh Larsson at the Nou Camp. His time with La Blaugrana proved to be successful in terms of silverware.

Gudjhonsen was a part of the treble-winning season of Barcelona in 2008-09. Gudjohsen played in the blue and burgundy shirt for three years from 2006 to 2009. He netted 19 goals in 114 games for the club.

#4: Pedro Rodriguez

Pedro has won a Premier League with Chelsea

One of the best products of La Masia, Spanish forward Pedro Rodriguez made it to Barca's first team in 2008. The mercurial forward was a crucial wideman in Pep Guardiola's famous tiki-taka tactic. He scored the opening goal versus Manchester United in the 2011 Champions League final as the Catalans clinched their second title in three years.

Pedro had an immensely successful career at the Nou Camp and established himself as a fan-favorite at the club. He was one of the seven Barcelona players who have been a part of both the treble-winning teams at the Nou Camp in recent years. In his nine seasons with the club, the Spaniard netted 99 times in 321 appearances for the club.

In 2015, Pedro arrived at the Stamford Bridge in a €30 million deal and has been there ever since. He has a Premier League medal and with Conte in charge, the Spaniard looks set to play another vital part as Chelsea aim for silverware.

#3: Deco

Deco was a crucial part in Chelsea's domestic double in 2009-10

A player who possessed brilliant vision and technique, Portuguese midfielder Deco was expected to follow Jose Mourinho from Porto to Chelsea. However, he decided to join Barcelona instead, in a €15 million deal that saw fellow countryman Ricardo Quaresma go the other way.

Deco proved to be a crucial part of a three-man Barcelona midfield due to his incredible work ethic and sleek passing abilities. Deco came second in the 2004 Ballon d'Or gala behind Andriy Shevchenko and above Ronaldinho.

Being a versatile player on the field, he was capable of playing anywhere in the midfield, albeit being a traditional attacking midfielder.

After a four-year stint at the Nou Camp with 22 goals in 161 appearances, the Portuguese genius swapped Nou Camp for Stamford Bridge in 2008. But, his two-year spell with Chelsea didn't turn out to be as successful as expected. Yet, Deco did play a vital part as Ancelotti's team won a domestic double in the 2009-10 season.

In two seasons at the club, Deco made 57 appearances and netted 6 times for the Londoners.

#2: Albert Ferrer

Ferrer was an important cog in the wheel in both sides

A very few people in the modern age might know this name. Nonetheless, Albert Ferrer played a vital part for both the clubs in his career.

Initially coming through the youth ranks under Johan Cruyff, Ferrer was an indispensable defender in Barcelona's famous Dream Team. A tough-tackling defender who used his blistering pace as a right back, Ferrer won a host of trophies with the club in his eight-year spell from 1990 to 1998.

In July 1998, the Spaniard joined Chelsea in a £2.2 million deal after experiencing limited playing chances at the Nou Camp. He helped Chelsea qualify for their first ever Champions League competition, establishing himself as one of the first names on the teamsheet.

But, the silverware he grabbed at Barcelona proved ultimately better as the right-back retired at 33 years of age in 2003.

#1: Cesc Fabregas

Fabregas chose Chelsea over Arsenal on returning to England

Over the years, Cesc Fabregas has become apt at dishing out assists to his teammates. An important player in the the Spanish national team, Fabregas was a La Masia graduate, sharing the honour with the likes of Xavi, Iniesta, Messi, Puyol, and Pique. However, the attacking midfielder decided to join then English champions, Arsenal, at a young age.

Cesc Fabregas returned to his home club in 2011 in search of silverware. Barcelona signed the Arsenal skipper for €29 million and Fabregas took little time to adjust in a star-studded midfield with his old friends. In his three years at the Nou Camp, he won six trophies, scoring 42 goals in 151 appearances for the Catalans.

After Fabregas decided to move, he was touted to join his former club, Arsenal. However, the Spaniard produced quite a wave of hatred from the Gunners supporters after choosing Chelsea in 2014. Jose Mourinho paid a fortune of €33 million to bring him to England as Chelsea won the Premier League that season.

But, the move to Chelsea hasn't been as good as his Barcelona days. Fabregas still plies his trade at the Bridge and will look to match his accolades with the Catalans.