7 worst receptions fans given to returning players by fans

#2 Michael Laudrup

Michael Laudrup was a fairly unassuming type, but courted a lot of hostility from Catalonia upon his transfer in 1994.

Michael Laudrup, now recognised as the well dressed, well travelled Dane, has a rather interesting story to tell from his playing days, co-starring, once again, the Barcelona faithful. Laudrup had signed for the club in 1989, envisioned as one of the architects behind the revolution instigated by manager Johan Cruyff upon his return to Catalonia for the first time since his days there as a player.

Laudrup settled in magnificently, and his elegant, stylish play was a key part of Barcelona’s capture of four consecutive Spanish league titles in the early 1990s, as well as the club’s first European Cup in 1992. It seemed a match made in heaven. Alas, the good times didn’t last.

Laudrup eventually fell out with the always-controversial Cruyff, implying through his angry words that Cruyff was jealous of Laudrup’s abilities as a player, and was deliberately holding him back so that Cruyff’s reputation as one of the best players in the history of Barcelona, as well as the sport, would remain intact. It was all extremely unsavoury.

Allegedly in an attempt to get one over on Cruyff, Laudrup moved to Real Madrid in 1994, and quickly formed a deadly partnership with the striker Ivan Zamorano on route to Madrid’s recapture of the league title in 1995. The Barcelona fans, however, were understandably not so keen as Cruyff to see the back of Laudrup.

The Dane, an affable, sophisticated character as well as a great footballer, received a response from the fans at the Nou Camp so mind-bendingly hostile, one would be forgiven for thinking he salted the earth of Catalonia in which the crops grew. He was booed, whistled at and vilified to the extent he looked visibly shocked and simply never got going on the pitch as a result. He quit Spanish football not one year later.

It did Barcelona little good, though. With Laudrup in the side, Real Madrid recorded a historic 5-0 win over their bitter foes in the title winning season.