Now that El Clasico is popping up this weekend, we look at the some of the most notorious players who have crossed the gap in the world's most famous luminaire.
On July 24, 2000, Luis Figo became the world's most expensive player when he signed for Real Madrid from Barcelona. For the great anger of Barca fans, Figo made the movement at the height of his powers and won the Ballon d'Or shortly after he joined their arch rivals. The Portuguese star was productive for both teams, made more than 150 performances and won two league titles for each side. Figo eventually left Real Madrid in 2003, after he cemented himself as one of the greatest foreign players ever in Laliga.
Perhaps it is up to Puur Talent that Ronaldo Nazario remains loved by both set fans. Il Fenomeno joined FC Barcelona for the 1996/97 campaign from PSV. Despite the fact that he was only one season, Ronaldo was the Levensious and scored 47 goals in 49 races on route to help FC Barcelona to win the UEFA Cup Winners Cup, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup. Because of issues in his contract, Inter Milan met his release clause and, too much sorrow in Catalonia, he left shortly thereafter. Five years later, Ronaldo joined Real Madrid to the delight of colleague Galacticos Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham and Roberto Carlos. Despite struggling with injuries, Ronaldo achieved every success at Real Madrid, won the Ballon d'Or, Laliga title, Intercontinental Cup, Spanish Super Cup and 83 goals register in 127 performances.
Michael Laudrup was generally considered one of the largest players of his generation and was an important member of Johan Cruyff's dream team in FC Barcelona next to Ronald Koeman. Under the leadership of Cruyff, Laudrup won nine trophies in the club, including four consecutive league titles between 1991 and 1994 and the European Cup in 1992. In a controversial movement, Laudrup decided to join Real Madrid in the Nasleep of the WK of 1994. Laudrup the only player ever won the Spanish competition five times in a row and played for two different clubs. He left to become a member of Vissel Kobe, leaving him a legacy to be one of the most talented players who plays for the two clubs.
Luis Enrique is the fourth player on this list that the gap has exceeded. Luis Enrique came to Real Madrid from Sporting Gijon in 1991, spent five years in the capital and scored in particular in their 5-0 win over FC Barcelona in January 1995. Suppose he did not feel appreciated, Luis Enrique left for the Catalan Giants with his existing contract that came to an end. Although first treated with caution, he became a legend for his new club, which remains eight years old, he became a club captain and scored 73 goals in 207 performances. He retired in 2004 at the age of 34 and continued to manage FC Barcelona to Laliga and Champions League Glory.
In the end, Bernd Schuster was a booth of Barcelona who made 170 performances for the club for eight years. The German was an early mature talent and soon became a favorite with fans, who won the European Silver Ball in 1980 and Bronze Ball in 1981 and 1985. His move to Real Madrid in 1988 was very controversial and arrived at a time when Real Madrid started to regain control of Laliga. He spent two years in Los Blancos and scored 13 goals in 61 performances. Schuster managed Latterly Real Madrid in 2007 and sent them to the Liga title of 2007/08.
Other famous players who crossed the gap are Samuel Eto'o, Javier Saviola, Albert Celades, Julen Lopetegui, Luis Milla, Ricardo Zamora and Josep Samitier, one of the early greats of Barcelona. More recent examples are becoming increasingly difficult to find, perhaps a sign of how difficult it is to do.
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