From Figo to Ronaldo to Eto’o: The gamers who’ve crossed the El Clasico divide

With ‘El Clasico’ on the horizon, we check out a few of the most infamous gamers to have crossed the divide and play for his or her rival on the earth’s most well-known fixture.
On July twenty fourth, 2000, Luis Figo turned the world’s costliest participant when he signed for Real Madrid from FC Barcelona for about €62 million. To the nice anger of Barça followers, Figo made the transfer on the peak of his powers, shortly profitable the Ballon D’Or after becoming a member of their arch-rivals. Figo was prolific for each groups, making over 150 appearances and profitable two league titles for every workforce. Figo finally left Real Madrid in 2003 having cemented himself as one of many biggest ever international gamers to grace La Liga.
Perhaps it’s all the way down to sheer expertise that Ronaldo stays beloved by each units of followers. Il Fenomeno joined FC Barcelona for the 1996-97 marketing campaign from PSV for a world-record $19.5 million payment. Despite solely staying for one season Ronaldo was imperious, scoring 47 targets in 49 video games on path to serving to FC Barcelona win the UEFA Cup Winners Cup, Copa del Rey and Spain Supercup. Due to points in his contract Inter Milan met his launch clause and, to a lot Catalan unhappiness, departed shortly after. Five years later Ronaldo joined Real Madrid for €46 million to the delight of fellow Galacticos Zidane, Beckham and Roberto Carlos. Despite combating accidents Ronaldo achieved a lot success at Real, profitable the Ballon D’Or, La Liga title, Intercontinental, Spanish Supercup and registering 83 targets in 127 appearances.
Widely considered one of many biggest gamers of his era, Michael Laudrup was a key member of Johan Cruyff’s “Dream Team” at FC Barcelona alongside Ronald Koeman. Under Cruyff’s management, Laudrup gained 9 trophies on the membership together with 4 successive league titles between 1991-1994 and the European Cup in 1992. In a controversial transfer, Laudrup determined to affix Real Madrid within the aftermath of the 1994 World Cup. His resolution was instantly vindicated with the membership occurring to win the 1995 LaLiga title, making Michael the one participant ever to win the Spanish league 5 instances in a row taking part in for 2 completely different golf equipment. He left to affix Vissel Kobe, abandoning a legacy of being one of the crucial proficient gamers to play for the 2 golf equipment.

The present Spain supervisor, Luis Enrique, is the fourth participant on our listing to have crossed the divide. Enrique joined Real Madrid from Sporting Gijon in 1991, spending 5 years within the capital and notably scoring of their 5-0 win over FC Barcelona in January 1995. Stating that he didn’t really feel appreciated, Enrique departed in 1996 for the Catalan giants together with his current contract as a result of a detailed. Although handled with warning at first, Enrique turned a legend for his new membership, staying eight years, turning into membership captain and scoring 73 targets in 207 appearances. He retired in 2004 on the age of 34 and went on to handle FC Barcelona to La Liga and Champions League glory.
Finally, we have a look at Bernd Schuster who was a FC Barcelona stalwart, making 170 appearances for the membership throughout eight years of service. Schuster was a precocious expertise and shortly turned a fan favorite, profitable the European Silver Ball in 1980 and Bronze Ball in 1981 and 1985. His transfer to Real Madrid in 1988 was extremely controversial and got here at a time when Real Madrid have been beginning to regain management of LaLiga. He stayed at Los Blancos for 2 years, scoring 13 targets in 61 appearances. Schuster latterly managed Real Madrid in 2007 and steered them to the 07/08 La Liga title.
Other very well-known gamers who’ve crossed the divide embrace Samuel Eto’o, Javier Saviola, former Valencia CF coach Albert Celades, present Sevilla FC coach Julen Lopetegui, former Indonesia coach Luis Milla, the legendary Ricardo Zamora (who lends his title to the ‘Zamora trophy’ for La Liga Santander’s greatest keeper), and most not too long ago Takefusa Kubo, signed by Real Madrid in summer time 2019 and now starring on mortgage at Getafe CF after having spent 4 years at Barcelona’s La Masia academy from 2011 to 2015.