in

Football’s most controversial transfers ever, including Cole and Tevez, as Cristiano Ronaldo is offered to Man City


FORMER Manchester United legend Cristiano Ronaldo could be set to join noisy neighbours Manchester City.

Reports claim that the Portuguese star, 36, has been offered to the Premier League champions, who are desperately seeking a striker after Harry Kane agreed to stay at Tottenham.

Cristiano Ronaldo is being sensationally lined up for a move to Manchester CityCredit: PA

The five-time Ballon d’Or winner has been made available by Juventus, and he is said to be seeking £510,000-per-week to move to the Etihad.

And if Ronaldo gets his wish, he could join these controversial stars who upset the apple cart by joining their fierce rivals.

Tevez, Man Utd to Man City

With the Argentinian owned by a third party – agent Kia Joorabchian’s Media Sports Investment company – Tevez was technically on loan to Manchester United for two years.

The Red Devils dallied on a permanent deal, which allowed crosstown rivals Man City to swoop in 2009.

A billboard was then erected in Manchester facing in the direction of Salford with Tevez on a blue backdrop with the slogan ‘Welcome to Manchester’.

The whole matter left Sir Alex Ferguson incensed. “Stupid and arrogant,” he said of the poster. “A small club with a small mentality,” he labelled City.

Man City put up this poster in Manchester after signing Carlos TevezCredit: PA:Press Association
Sir Alex Ferguson was livid after Tevez left United for CityCredit: AFP

Campbell, Spurs to Arsenal

Kane can count his lucky stars it’s not the Gunners trying to lure him away from Spurs.

In 2001, Sol Campbell’s contract with Tottenham was set to expire and was considering his options.

Few could believe the England legend would end up at arch-rivals Arsenal, after admitting he was seeking Champions League football.

It was “the ultimate act of betrayal”, according to the Tottenham Hotspur Supporters’ Trust said.

In 2001, Sol Campbell shocked English football when he left Tottenham for ArsenalCredit: PA:Press Association
Campbell feels the brunt of Spurs fans at White Hart LaneCredit: Getty – Contributor

Cole, Arsenal to Chelsea

What goes around comes around in football, they say, and Ashley Cole leaving Arsenal for Chelsea was one Gunners fans STILL haven’t got over – often referring to him as ‘Cashley Cole’.

Chelsea and Jose Mourinho were accused of tapping up the ex-England left-back, when the pair met at a hotel restaurant to discuss a potential move.

At the time, Cole was disgruntled with a contract offer he’d received – famously admitting “I nearly swerved off the road” with the £55,000-per-week deal on the table.

All parties were fined for the tapping up incident, but that didn’t stop Cole from making his move a year later.

Months later at Stamford Bridge, Arsenal fans showered the pitch with fake bank notes with Ashley Cole’s face on.

Arsenal fans throw fake bank notes with Ashley Cole’s image on them onto the pitch at Stamford BridgeCredit: PA:Press Association
The notes featured Cole’s face as well his famous quote from his bookCredit: News Group Newspapers Ltd

Figo, Barcelona to Real Madrid

The Real Madrid presidential elections of 2000 brought arguably the most astonishing transfer in Spanish football history.

With Florentino Perez trailing in the polls, he launched an audacious bid for Barcelona talisman Luis Figo.

He offered the Portugal legend a guaranteed £1.6million if he lost the election, but if he won Figo would have to either move to Los Blancos or pay £19million in compensation.

Figo took the bait, and when Perez was voted in the £38million release clause was met and the winger joined Real.

When he returned to the Nou Camp in 2002, he was met with a hostile reaction, as well as a pig’s head that was thrown onto the pitch.

Barcelona fans burn a poster of former hero Luis Figo at the Nou CampCredit: AP:Associated Press
A pig’s head was thrown onto the pitch when Figo returned to the Nou CampCredit: Diario AS

Keane, Man Utd to Celtic

When Roy Keane made himself an enemy in the eyes of Sir Alex Ferguson, there was no going back.

First, he reportedly argued with Fergie over the quality of the set-up at the Portuguese resort United were enjoying a preseason training camp at in 2005.

Then, he blasted team-mates Rio Ferdinand, John O’Shea, Alan Smith, Kieran Richardson and Darren Fletcher in an interview with MUTV.

The explosive clip was never aired, but the damage was done. Keane was granted a free transfer – joining boyhood club Celtic.

Roy Keane signed for boyhood club Celtic after an infamous fallout with Sir Alex FergusonCredit: Getty

Baggio, Fiorentina to Juventus

The Diving Ponytail joined Juventus from Fiorentina in 1990 for a world record £8million fee.

But despite the huge cash windfall, Viola fans were fuming and they stormed the club’s offices – forcing president Flavio Pontello to hide in the stadium.

Amazingly, the riots saw 50 fans injured, while nine were arrested.

What happened next was even better. When the two played each other the following season, Baggio refused to take a penalty claiming Fiorentina keeper Gianmatteo Mareggini would know how to save it.

After he was substituted from the pitch, Baggio then picked up a Fiorentina scarf thrown at him and later revealed “his heart was purple”.

Roberto Baggio swapped Florence for Turin, but later revealed his heart was purpleCredit: Getty

Cruyff, Ajax to Feyenoord

Forever the darling of Ajax fans, there was a time when Johan Cruyff threatened his reputation with them.

After giving them the best part of his football career, the Dutch club’s board felt the Netherlands legend was finished at 36 and refused to offer him a new deal.

Dutch legend Johan Cruyff won the double with Feyenoord after Ajax released him in spiteCredit: Getty

Cruyff was furious. So mad, in fact, he signed for their bitter enemy Feyenoord, who he then led to the double and won Dutch Footballer of the Year.

“I wanted to take my anger out on Ajax via Feyenoord after the club had thrown me out with the rubbish”, he later admitted in his autobiography.

Cristiano Ronaldo ‘wants stunning transfer to Man City’ as Man Utd icon eyes Juventus exit with Harry Kane move stalling


Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk


Tagcloud:

Arsenal and Everton miss out on Joaquin Correa transfer as 27-year-old joins Inter Milan on loan with option to buy

Lewis Hamilton reveals he spent F1 break getting into better shape and is fighting fit for Max Verstappen title battle