Here is a full list of players who defied all odds and played for Barcelona and Real Madrid in their football careers.
It may come as a surprise to many football fans, but there have been a few brave players who have made the daring move from Barcelona to Real Madrid or vice versa. This topic of study has garnered significant attention because Barcelona and Real Madrid are fierce rivals in the Spanish La Liga, and fans typically do not take kindly to players switching sides.
As a result, many football enthusiasts find it fascinating to explore the few players who have played for both clubs at some point in their careers. In light of this, we have compiled a comprehensive list of such players to satisfy the curiosity of our readers.
Who was the first player to play for both Barcelona and Real Madrid?
Ricardo Zamora, a legendary Spanish footballer, made a significant move from Barcelona to the Spanish capital, Real Madrid, during his illustrious career. Zamora, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time, played for Barcelona between 1919 and 1921, before making a switch to Madrid in 1930. He continued to play for Madrid until 1936 when he retired from professional football. Interestingly, the award for the best goalkeeper in La Liga Santander is named after Ricardo Zamora in recognition of his outstanding contributions to the sport.
Luis Enrique
The current coach of Spain Luis Enrique is part of the elite and exclusive list of players that have both played for Real Madrid and Barcelona. Luis Enrique played for Real Madrid in 1991, he spent a total of five seasons at the Los Blancos side where he played a total of 157 games and scored 18 goals for the side.
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Enrique had been very influential in the midfield of Real Madrid before he made a direct swap to Barcelona in 1996. He played a total of 207 games for Barca and scored 73 goals for the side.
He also went on to coach Barcelona from 2014-2017.
How did Luis Figo play for both Barcelona and Real Madrid?
Arguably one of the most controversial transfers in football history, Luis Figo was a fan favourite at Barcelona where he played from 1995 to 2000 before he made a move to Real Madrid and played from 2000 to 2005.
He played in a total of 172 matches for Barcelona where he scored a total of 30 goals. His move to Real Madrid had shocked many fans, it had been for a record fee of 62 million euros, Figo scored 38 goals in 164 appearances for the Los Blancos side.
How Ronaldo Nazario De Lima played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid
Brazilian star Ronaldo De Lima is one of the football greats who played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid. He had just spent one season (1996-1997) at Barcelona where he played 37 games and scored 34 goals.
He left Barcelona for Inter Milan but later made his way back to Spain where he joined Real Madrid and played 127 games and scored a staggering number of 83 goals from 2002 to 2007.
Michael Laudrup
Regarded as one of the best players ever Michael Laudrup craved his niche in the history books as he remained one of the very few that made a direct move from Barcelona to Real Madrid in 1994.
He was a key player for the Barcelona side from 1989 to 1994 where he played 166 games and scored 41 goals, his move to Real Madrid saw him play 62 games and score a total of 12 goals from 1994 to 1996.
Did Samuel Eto’o play for only Barcelona in Spain?
After his short and uneventful stint at Real Madrid, Samuel Eto'o made a strong comeback when he joined Barcelona in 2004. Despite his initial struggles at Los Blancos, Eto'o's move to Barcelona proved to be a turning point in his career.
During his stay at Barcelona, the Cameroonian striker played a total of 144 games and scored an impressive 108 goals for the side. Eto'o's remarkable performances on the field made him one of the most prolific goal-scorers in the club's history and cemented his place as one of the greatest footballers of his generation.
Players you didn't know played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid
Here is a list of other players you didn't know played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid:
- Robert Prosinecki
- Julen Lopetegui
- Gheorghe Hagi
- Bernd Schuster
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