CARLOS TEVEZ’S attempt to tunnel his way out of Manchester City is the latest transfer hoopla to surround the gifted striker, whose move across Manchester from United caused a red mist among Red Devils’ fans.
And it prompted us to ask: “What are the most controversial transfers of all time?”
Luis Figo – Barcelona to Real Madrid
Some football fans throw severed animal heads at players, some don’t. After Catalunyan idol Luis Figo joined their hated rivals for £37.5million in July 2000, the Nou Camp faithful showed which they were. As Figo attempted to take a corner for Real in front of baying Barca ultras, a pig’s head bounced just inches from the midfield maestro. He used to bring home the bacon for Barcelona, but now his goose was cooked at the Nou Camp.
Catch another former Galactico in action.
Eric Cantona – Leeds to Manchester United. Leeds and Manchester dislike each other so much that they have to be separated by the Pennines. One reason why Leeds fans still twitch like electric eels at the memory of boss Howard Wilkinson selling the mercurial but majestic Cantona to United in 1992. And the transfer fee? Just £1.2million.
Check out the Gallic brilliance Leeds lost.
Dennis Law – Manchester United to Manchester City
Imagine your hero punching you really hard in the stomach. That’s how United fans felt when the Scottish striker, who’d spent a glorious decade at Old Trafford, joined bitter rivals City in 1973, and THEN scored against them on the last day of the season as United were relegated. Ouch!
Savour a Manchester derby of rare dignity.
Mo Johnston – Celtic to Rangers
While Celtic fans felt betrayed when the former Parkhead favourite joined Rangers in July 1989, Gers fans felt disgusted. The signing of a hated Hoop sparked bonfires of Ibrox season tickets, briefly united the opposing fans in mutual loathing, and gave Glasgow bodyguards a new client.
Watch the next Old Firm clash live at midday, 18 September, Sky Sports 2.
Roberto Baggio – Fiorentina to Juventus
The Viola faithful were convinced Juve had cheated them out of the Scudetto in 1982. So when Il Divin Codino (The Divine Ponytail) joined the enemy in 1990, there was only one thing for it – a riot. Street fighting in Florence left 50 people injured and fuelled one of Italy’s most heated rivalries.
Enjoy the passion of Italian football with Serie A matches live every week on ESPN from 28 August.
Are these the biggest transfer shockers of all time, or are there others that stunned the football world? Let us know by leaving a comment. And for sport, film and TV chit-chat, follow @tvfrombt on Twitter/tvfrombt.
