The most shocking betrayal transfers in modern football

Club rivalries truly make football what it is. Some of the fiercest rivalries create hatred and passion unlike any other, and footballers know they shouldn't directly cross the line between the rivals.

However, football is an emotional sport, and sometimes other factors come into play when players make a transfer to another club. These footballers are known as the biggest traitors in history, breaking the hearts of their former fans.

Perhaps the most controversial transfer in the history of modern-day football. Luis Figo was a superstar at FC Barcelona when he decided to make a very contentious career move.

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In 2000, the Portuguese signed for Real Madrid in a €60 million move that set Spain ablaze. We all remember the pig's head thrown at Figo when he visited the Nou Camp with Los Merengues.

Christian Vieri played for Internazionale from 1999 to 2005, when he decided he wanted other things. What he did not want, however, was to leave Milan.

So he signed for arch-rivals AC Milan in 2005, earning him the title of traitor.

Michael Lauddrup was a gracious footballer, but in 1994, the Dane showed a different side of himself.

He moved to the Spanish capital to play for Real Madrid, a move still etched in the memory of many Barça fans.

Robin van Persie scored many goals for Arsenal, but a transfer in 2012 erased those goals from the memory of many Arsenal fans.

Van Persie did not hesitate and signed for Manchester United, where he would stay until 2015.

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Ronaldo Nazario is one of the best strikers ever, a title he partly earned himself at FC Barcelona.

After a spell at Internazionale, he went on to play for Real Madrid in 2002, where he was an important part of Florentino Perez's Galacticos project.

Ashley Cole is considered one of the best England left-backs ever. He started his career at Arsenal, but would break many Gunner's hearts in 2006.

Cole signed for Chelsea, where he played for almost a decade.

Luis Enrique is a well-known manager now, but in the 1990s he was a Real Madrid star on the pitch.

In 1996, however, he tried his luck at FC Barcelona, where he would end his playing career eight years later.

Cesc Fabregas was a teenage sensation at Arsenal, who would go on and play for another big London club in his career.

After a spell at FC Barcelona, Fabregas signed for London rivals Chelsea, where he won two Premier League titles.

Mario Götze was a star at Borussia Dortmund when he chose another destination to fulfil his football dreams.

The German went on to play for Bayern Munich in 2013, where he never quite felt comfortable. He returned to Dortmund in 2016, but things were never the same at the Signal Iduna Park.

Carlos Tevez was a fearsome striker in his prime, scoring goals for West Ham and then on loan for Manchester United.

In 2009, Tevez made a controversial move to Manchester City, where he added a Premier League title to his trophy cabinet, among other prizes.

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Emmanuel Adebayor joined Arsenal as a 22-year-old and regularly showed his class for the Gunners.

The striker would later go on to play for Manchester City and Arsenal's North London rivals Tottenham, and did not hold back when he celebrated a goal for City against Arsenal.

A reliable defender at his peak, William Gallas forced a free transfer from Chelsea to Arsenal in 2006.

In 2010, he made another controversial move by going to Tottenham, where his contract was not renewed in 2013.

Sol Campbell burst onto the scene at Tottenham in 1992, but would infuriate Spurs fans in 2001.

The central defender left Spurs on a free transfer to play for rivals Arsenal, where he scored in the 2006 Champions League final against FC Barcelona.

Did we miss any? Let us know in the comments what you thought was the worst betrayal of all!

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