Ranking The Top 10 Most Controversial Football Transfers Of All Time

Find out the 10 most controversial football transfers of all-time right here as we rank the players who ditched allegiance for money

Over the years, there have been a number of players who have been in the limelight for moves to clubs that were once their rivals. Let us take a look at the 10 most controversial football transfers of all-time:

Ranked the top 10 most controversial football transfers of all time

1. Carlos Tevez to Manchester City: Tevez played for Manchester United before he moved to Manchester City in 2009. Not only that, to worsen matters, City even put up a billboard of Tevez with the message, “Welcome to Manchester” on it. 

2. John Obi Mikel to Chelsea: In 2005, Man United and Chelsea both were in the race to sign John, and both the clubs even claimed that they had reached an agreement with Mikel. Eventually Mikel chose Chelsea.

3. John Robertson to Derby County: Robertson was signed by Peter Taylor, who was the manager at Nottingham forest with Brian Clough where they enjoyed enormous success. However, Taylor then went on to manage Forest’s close rivals Derby County and also signed Robertson a year later without informing Clough. That led to their relationship getting strained.

4. Robin Van Persie to Manchester United: This move was probably the most painful move for Arsenal fans.

5. Ashley Cole to Chelsea: Another Arsenal player giving the fans something to cry about. Cole’s move to Chelsea really hurt the Gunners’ fans.

6. Johan Cruyff to Feyenoord: Cruyff’s move to Feyenoord in 1983 was a huge blow to Ajax. Ajax should have valued Cruyff much more than they did.

7. Roberto Baggio to Juventus: Baggio’s move from Fiorentina to Juventus resulted in riots in Florence.

8. Sol Campbell to Arsenal:  Campbell lost all the respect from Tottenham fans when he moved to Arsenal and they will never forgive him.

9. Luis Figo to Real Madrid: Figo’s move to Real Madrid from Barcelona angered the Culers to an extent that when he returned to Camp Nou in 2002, the fans threw a pig’s head at the Portuguese player.

10. Mo Johnston to Rangers: After his tenure at Nantes, Johnston was to move back to Celtic but instead he chose to join Rangers. This not only upset Celtic fans, but also Rangers fans because Johnston was the first high-profile player to publicly play for the club.

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