By David Lee Wheatley
Here's my list of the most thought-provoking and shocking transfers that have taken place within the last 25 years of European football.
10. Robin van Persie (Arsenal to Manchester United)
Arsene Wenger was desperate not to sell number one marksman van Persie to a Premier League rival, but the player held all the cards with his contract almost up and the value on his head diminishing by the week. Despite efforts to push him in the direction of Italy and Spain, the Dutch striker remained steadfast to eventually make his dream switch to Old Trafford a reality.
9. Andy Cole (Newcastle United to Manchester United)
Adored by the Geordie faithful, Cole was sold by Kevin Keegan in a move that caused uproar on Tyneside. A huddle of fans approached the beleaguered boss on the icy steps of St. James' Park to remonstrate with him over the unexpected decision, but the deal had been done and there was no going back. Cole went on to become a legend under Sir Alex Ferguson in Manchester, while Keegan didn't last much longer in the Magpies' hot-seat.
8. Ashley Cole (Arsenal to Chelsea)
Another case of Arsenal having their hand forced in relation to a transfer of one of their players to an arch-rival. Left-back Ashley Cole was tapped-up illegally by the Stamford Bridge outfit some time before they went through the proper channels to complete the high-profile move. The England man immediately went from hero-to-zero on leaving the Gunners.
7. Paul Ince (West Ham United to Manchester United)
Trail-blazer Ince made the crucial mistake of having a photograph taken of him sporting the red of Manchester United prior to any agreement having been made between the clubs. The first black player to captain the full England national side became a reviled figure at Upton Park and every visit back there was a painful experience for the dynamic midfielder.
6. Carlos Tevez (Manchester United to Manchester City)
A consistently controversial Carlos Tevez made a break across the north-west city of Manchester to join the Light Blues, upsetting the United supporters and manager Ferguson no end. The 'Noisy Neighbours', as they were christened by Sir Alex, took to putting up huge billboards of Tevez above the tag-line 'Welcome To Manchester' in an obvious tactic to rile up their nearest-and-dearest. Throughout a turbulent stay with City, Tevez remained a thorn in the side of United, helping City to the Premier League title in 2012.
5. Mo Johnston (Nantes to Glasgow Rangers)
Having established himself as an idol at Parkhead with Celtic fans, Johnston moved on to an adventure in France with Nantes. Two years later, Graeme Souness made the brave choice to bring Johnston back to Scottish football with Rangers, while the player himself snubbed a proposed return to his former side. Though not the first Catholic player to feature for the predominantly Protestant club, he certainly was by far the most high-profile to do so. With the searing local rivalry, coupled with the religious differences between the two sides, the transfer surprised many onlookers. However, Johnston did well on the field for his new team in scoring almost a goal every two games. Despite the amount of time that has passed since, many Hoops followers will never forgive him.
4. Sol Campbell (Tottenham Hotspur to Arsenal)
England defender Campbell once uttered the words in an official Spurs club magazine that he'd never sign for Arsenal, but he duly did in 2001. The Tottenham supporters spent plenty of time demonstrating over the switch and carnage ensued when the Arsenal team coach arrived at White Hart Lane in anticipation of a hotly-contested north London derby. Campbell was a rock at the heart of the Gunners' defence for many years and made a brief return for a second spell late in his career.
3. Eric Cantona (Leeds United to Manchester City)
Fresh from winning the First Division title at Elland Road, the French genius left for Manchester United in a bargain £1.2m move that shocked the Yorkshire side of the Pennines to its very core. Although a troublesome character at times, Cantona wowed crowds with his sublime technique and skill during a five-year stay at Old Trafford. Leeds boss Howard Wilkinson was vilified for letting him go and Alex Ferguson hailed for snapping him up in equal measure once the forward went on to forge a position as one of the Red Devils' all-time greats, before retiring prematurely aged just 31.
2. Roberto Baggio (Fiorentina to Juventus)
The 'Divine Ponytail' set off riots in the city of Florence when sold to Turin giants Juventus in 1990. Over 50 people were injured on the streets at the height of the trouble, as Fiorentina's finest left for pastures new following an impressive showing at the Italia '90 World Cup. Baggio went on to establish himself at the Delle Alpi as a true legend of the Italian game, while Fiorentina suffered demotion to Serie B a short while later, before scrambling back to the top.
1. Luis Figo (Barcelona to Real Madrid)
Portuguese wizard Figo made the seldom-travelled journey from Catalonia to the Spanish capital following several sterling seasons at Camp Nou. The Galacticos operation was in full swing at that time and the attacking midfielder sat way up high on Real's hit-list. Outrage ensued in Barcelona and the Cules simply couldn't wait to vent their displeasure in the direction of one-time favourite Figo on his return. Consequently he was pelted with numerous objects whenever he dared venture anywhere near the touchline or corner flag, including a pig's head, on a night he'll never forget!
Twitter: @davewh1980
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