25 years since Luis Figo's controversial transfer

Big-money moves are nothing new in European football, but some transfers still send shockwaves decades later, etching themselves into the sport’s most infamous moments. One such seismic event occurred precisely 25 years ago, when Luís Figo, Barcelona’s poster boy and midfield maestro, made the unthinkable switch from Camp Nou to bitter rivals Real Madrid. This was not merely a transfer; it was an act of sporting treason, a betrayal that ignited a firestorm of emotion and forever altered the landscape of Spanish football. Figo, a player who embodied the spirit of the Blaugrana, captained their side, and was adored by their faithful, became the face of a rivalry intensified to an unprecedented degree.