The Controversial Transfer of Luis Figo: Football's Biggest Betrayal

TLDRLu Figo's controversial transfer from Barcelona to Real Madrid in 2000 is considered one of the most shocking moves in football history, adding fuel to the heated rivalry between the two clubs. Figo's transfer was orchestrated by Real Madrid's president at the time, Florentino Perez, who used Figo as a symbol of the club's rise to power. The transfer sparked intense hatred from Barcelona fans, resulting in hostile receptions and even objects being thrown at Figo during matches. Figo later took responsibility for his actions and stopped working with his agent. The transfer story is covered in the Netflix documentary 'ELO Figo or the Figo Affair.' Figo left Real Madrid in 2005 and joined Inter Milan before retiring in 2009.

Key insights

Figo's transfer from Barcelona to Real Madrid in 2000 is considered one of the most shocking moves in football history.

🤝The transfer added another layer of hatred and rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid.

💰Florentino Perez used Figo's transfer to establish Real Madrid's dominance and propel himself to the presidency.

👋Figo faced intense hostility and received objects thrown at him from Barcelona fans during matches.

🎥The transfer story is covered in the Netflix documentary 'ELO Figo or the Figo Affair.'

Q&A

Why was Figo's transfer controversial?

Figo's transfer from Barcelona to Real Madrid was controversial because of the intense rivalry between the two clubs. It added another layer of animosity and resulted in hostile receptions and objects being thrown at Figo during matches.

Who orchestrated the transfer?

Florentino Perez, who later became the president of Real Madrid, orchestrated Luis Figo's transfer from Barcelona. He used Figo as a symbol of the club's rise to power and dominance in European football.

What was the reaction of Barcelona fans?

Barcelona fans were furious and felt betrayed by Figo's transfer to their arch-rivals. They showed their anger by giving him hostile receptions and even throwing objects at him during matches.

What did Figo say about the transfer?

Figo later took responsibility for his actions and said that he was the one responsible for the transfer. He stopped working with his agent as a measure for the future.

Is there a documentary about the transfer?

Yes, there is a Netflix documentary titled 'ELO Figo or the Figo Affair' that covers the transfer story and includes interviews with the stakeholders involved.

Timestamped Summary

00:00Lu Figo, one of the greatest Portuguese football players, is best known for his controversial transfer from Barcelona to Real Madrid in 2000.

01:00The transfer, orchestrated by Real Madrid's president Florentino Perez, added fuel to the heated rivalry between Barcelona and Real Madrid.

02:00Figo faced intense animosity from Barcelona fans, who showed their anger by throwing objects at him during matches.

03:00Figo later took responsibility for the transfer and stopped working with his agent.

04:00The transfer story is covered in the Netflix documentary 'ELO Figo or the Figo Affair.'

05:00Figo left Real Madrid in 2005 and joined Inter Milan, where he won several major trophies before retiring in 2009.