Notorious traitors in football history
Higuain, who recently left Napoli for Juventus for $99 million, is not the first case to cause great anger at his former club by joining another team.
Before moving to Juventus, Baggio was an idol of the purple-shirted tifosi. Fiorentina was also the team that the "Divine Ponytail" had admired since his childhood and had no intention of leaving. But when Juventus made a world-record offer at that time, the darling of Italian football could not resist. Baggio's decision to change the shirt color led to riots on the streets of Florence with bricks, petrol bottles and iron bars. Even the President of Fiorentina at that time, Flavio Pontello, had to hide in the club's headquarters for safety. " data-reference-id="23956423" src="/dataimages/201607/original/images1640893_Nh_ng_k__ph_n_b_i_kh_t_ti_ng_trong_l_ch_s__b_ng_______nh_th__thao_579dec0755cbb.jpg" style="max-width: 500px; width: 500px; height: 410px;" /> |
Roberto Baggio(from Fiorentina to Juventus, 1990)
Before moving to Juventus, Baggio was an idol of the purple-shirted tifosi. Fiorentina was also the team that the "Divine Ponytail" had admired since his childhood and had no intention of leaving. But when Juventus made a world-record offer at that time, the darling of Italian football could not resist. Baggio's decision to change the shirt color led to riots on the streets of Florence with bricks, petrol bottles and iron bars. Even the President of Fiorentina at that time, Flavio Pontello, had to hide in the club's headquarters for safety.
After four seasons serving Barca (1990-1994), Michel Laudrup decided to leave Nou Camp because he felt abandoned by coach Johan Cruyff. On the day he left, more than 20,000 people signed an open letter, hoping he would stay. They did not want to lose him, one of the most elegant and graceful players in world football at that time. However, the feelings of love quickly turned into hatred when Laudrup moved to Real - Barca's arch-rival. " data-reference-id="23956424" src="/dataimages/201607/original/images1640892_Nh_ng_k__ph_n_b_i_kh_t_ti_ng_trong_l_ch_s__b_ng_______nh_th__thao_579dec0756aa8.jpg" style="max-width: 500px; width: 500px; height: 347px;" /> |
Michel Laudrup(from Barcelona to Real Madrid, 1994)
After four seasons serving Barca (1990-1994), Michel Laudrup decided to leave Nou Camp because he felt abandoned by coach Johan Cruyff. On the day he left, more than 20,000 people signed an open letter, hoping he would stay. They did not want to lose him, one of the most elegant and graceful players in world football at that time. However, the feelings of love quickly turned into hatred when Laudrup moved to Real - Barca's arch-rival.
The Portuguese legend made himself the world's worst traitor when he moved from Barca to arch-rivals Real Madrid in 2000. Despite a huge rift between the two clubs, Figo still decided to leave, becoming the most expensive player in the world at the time with a transfer fee of 49 million dollars. In Figo's first match back at the Nou Camp in Real's shirt, he received countless "gifts" from the culés. There were whistles, boos, water bottles, trash and even a pig's head thrown at the Portuguese legend. " data-reference-id="23956425" src="/dataimages/201607/original/images1640895_Nh_ng_k__ph_n_b_i_kh_t_ti_ng_trong_l_ch_s__b_ng_______nh_th__thao_579dec07557f6.jpg" style="max-width: 500px; width: 500px; height: 333px;" /> |
Luis Figo(from Barcelona to Real Madrid, 2000)
The Portuguese legend made himself the world's worst traitor when he moved from Barca to arch-rivals Real Madrid in 2000. Despite a huge rift between the two clubs, Figo still decided to leave, becoming the most expensive player in the world at the time with a transfer fee of 49 million dollars. In Figo's first match back at the Nou Camp in Real's shirt, he received countless "gifts" from the culés. There were whistles, boos, water bottles, trash and even a pig's head thrown at the Portuguese legend.
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Sol Campbell(from Tottenham to Arsenal, 2001)
Arsenal and Tottenham are two teams from the same city, but have never shared the same sky. They inherently dislike each other because of past grudges. Sol Campbell added to that grudge by deciding to join Arsenal in 2001, when he was already an idol at White Hart Lane with 255 appearances for Tottenham and many deep impressions. After that transfer, the London derby became a place for Spurs fans to vent their anger on their former idol. They constantly insulted, cursed and called him "Judas" - the anti-Christ in the Bible.
As an important member of the Man Utd team that won the double in 2008, Carlos Tevez could not stay at Old Trafford because Sir Alex did not want to spend much money. In the end, Tevez decided to join Man City. He became the number one star of the Etihad team, and at the same time a thorn in the eyes of the fans of his old club and his former teammates. In the next confrontation, Tevez scored a double to help Man City win 2-1. The Argentine striker ran towards the Man Utd coaching staff to celebrate the goal and made mocking gestures. In the 2010-2011 season, Tevez also contributed greatly to helping Man City overcome the "Red Devils" to win the Premier League championship. " data-reference-id="23956427" src="/dataimages/201607/original/images1640891_Nh_ng_k__ph_n_b_i_kh_t_ti_ng_trong_l_ch_s__b_ng_______nh_th__thao_579dec0755ec9.jpg" style="max-width: 500px; width: 500px; height: 301px;" /> |
Carlos Tevez(from Man Utd to Man City, 2009)
As an important member of the Man Utd team that won the double in 2008, Carlos Tevez could not stay at Old Trafford because Sir Alex did not want to spend much money. In the end, Tevez decided to join Man City. He became the number one star of the Etihad team, and at the same time a thorn in the eyes of the fans of his old club and his former teammates. In the next confrontation, Tevez scored a double to help Man City win 2-1. The Argentine striker ran towards the Man Utd coaching staff to celebrate the goal and made mocking gestures. In the 2010-2011 season, Tevez also contributed greatly to helping Man City overcome the "Red Devils" to win the Premier League championship.
Cole stayed with Arsenal for seven years, training from the youth team, promoted to the first team, becoming the number one left-back in English football in the middle of the first decade of the 21st century. But those “seven years of love” became meaningless when Chelsea jumped in, offering Cole a salary nearly double what Arsenal had offered in their contract extension offer. The defender left, joined the team in the same city and from then on was mocked by Arsenal fans with the name “Cashley Cole”, a play on words referring to Cole’s greed for money. They even printed fake coins with Cole’s image to flaunt when Arsenal faced their former player. " data-reference-id="23956428" src="/dataimages/201607/original/images1640896_Nh_ng_k__ph_n_b_i_kh_t_ti_ng_trong_l_ch_s__b_ng_______nh_th__thao_579dec07aa207.jpg" style="max-width: 500px; width: 500px; height: 375px;" /> |
Ashley Cole(from Arsenal to Chelsea, 2006)
Cole stayed with Arsenal for seven years, training from the youth team, promoted to the first team, becoming the number one left-back in English football in the middle of the first decade of the 21st century. But those “seven years of love” became meaningless when Chelsea jumped in, offering Cole a salary nearly double what Arsenal had offered in their contract extension offer. The defender left, joined the team in the same city and from then on was mocked by Arsenal fans with the name “Cashley Cole”, a play on words referring to Cole’s greed for money. They even printed fake coins with Cole’s image to flaunt when Arsenal faced their former player.
Pinto joined Atletico Madrid at the age of 17, but failed, returning to Portugal in 1992 and was welcomed by Benfica with open arms. He shone, becoming a mainstay of Benfica for the next eight seasons until 2000, when the club's president refused to renew his contract. Benfica fans at that time supported Pinto and were angry with the club's leader. Even when Pinto negotiated with Man Utd, Chelsea, Bayern, he was still a hero to Benfica fans. But everything turned upside down when Pinto decided to join Lisbon's city rivals, Sporting. From a hero, he became the most hated traitor in the eyes of Benfica fans. " data-reference-id="23956429" src="/dataimages/201607/original/images1640894_Nh_ng_k__ph_n_b_i_kh_t_ti_ng_trong_l_ch_s__b_ng_______nh_th__thao_579dec07b430e.jpg" style="max-width: 500px; width: 500px; height: 352px;" /> |
Joao Pinto(from Benfica to Sporting Lisbon, 2000)
Pinto joined Atletico Madrid at the age of 17, but failed, returning to Portugal in 1992 and was welcomed by Benfica with open arms. He shone, becoming a mainstay of Benfica for the next eight seasons until 2000, when the club's president refused to renew his contract. Benfica fans at that time supported Pinto and were angry with the club's leader. Even when Pinto negotiated with Man Utd, Chelsea, Bayern, he was still a hero to Benfica fans. But everything turned upside down when Pinto decided to join Lisbon's city rivals, Sporting. From a hero, he became the most hated traitor in the eyes of Benfica fans.
Higuain's arrival at the San Paolo Stadium angered Napoli fans, who had long considered him an irreplaceable part of the team. Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis added fuel to the fire by accusing Higuain of betraying the love of the Neapolitan people by joining Juventus. As soon as they heard the news of the successful transfer, Napoli fans burned Higuain's shirt, threw a flag with the striker's image into a garbage truck and even threw an effigy of him into the toilet. On forums, Napoli fans took turns using vulgar language to defame the Argentine striker. " data-reference-id="23956430" src="/dataimages/201607/original/images1640897_Nh_ng_k__ph_n_b_i_kh_t_ti_ng_trong_l_ch_s__b_ng_______nh_th__thao_579dec07d3830.jpg" style="max-width: 500px; width: 500px; height: 333px;" /> |
Gonzalo Higuain(from Napoli to Juventus, 2016)
Higuain's arrival at the San Paolo Stadium angered Napoli fans, who had long considered him an irreplaceable part of the team. Napoli President Aurelio De Laurentiis added fuel to the fire by accusing Higuain of betraying the love of the Neapolitan people by joining Juventus. As soon as they heard the news of the successful transfer, Napoli fans burned Higuain's shirt, threw a flag with the striker's image into a garbage truck and even threw an effigy of him into the toilet. On forums, Napoli fans took turns using vulgar language to defame the Argentine striker.
According to VNE
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