Top 5 controversial transfers

When a top player joins a rival club, it is bound to rake up a controversy. Be it for money or playing time, irrespective of the reason, the players can be rest assured they would have to face the wrath of angry fans. Lets take a look at the top controversial transfers so far.

1. Luis Figo (Barcelona - Real Madrid)
In a transfer which can be touted to be as the most controversial so far, Luis Figo decided to join El Classico rivals Real Madrid for a fee of close to £36.2 million. What followed was the wrath of fans as the midfielder was showered with oranges, cigarette lighters, beer cans and most surprisingly a pig's head. Moreover, the El Classico held on 23rd November 2002 had to be suspended for 20 minutes due to the disruption caused by the fans. Nevertheless, Figo went on to win two La Liga and one Champions League title with the Galacticos.

2. Roberto Baggio (Fiorentina - Juventus)
When The Italian champion decided to move to bitter rivals Juventus least did he know that it would be the beginning of a riot at Florence that saw over 50 people getting injured. Nevertheless, he managed to calm the angered fans by claiming that his blood would always be purple.

3.Sol Campbell: (Tottenham - Arsenal)
Let alone the fact that a transfer to the North London rivals was sufficient to stir up a controversy, the factor that angered the fans even more, was Campbell's decision to forgo the chance to become Spurs highest played player in favour of a switch to their bitter rivals. Nevertheless, he went on to become a part of Wenger's Invincibles.

4. Ashley Cole: (Arsenal - Chelsea)The left back was touted to be a future prospect and valued asset for the Gunners at the time of the transfer. What stirred up a controversy was a secret meeting between the player, agent and the Blues that saw Cole being slapped with a £100 k fine, the agent losing his license for 18 months and Chelsea being deducted 3 points. A year later Cole was transferred, and had to face the wrath of the fans who nicknamed him "Cashley Cole"

5. Carlos Tevez: (Manchester United - Manchester City)
At a time when the "Noisy Neigbours" started becoming serious title challengers, Tevez decided to turn down a 5 year contract extension in favour of a switch to Etihad. The infamous billboard outside Etihad was one that only added to the wrath of the fans. On his return to Old Trafford he was subject to the verbal abuse of fans who put up posters calling him a traitor.