3 controversial transfers involving FC Barcelona

La Liga champions Barcelona have made some huge signings over the years, though some of them have been at the centre of a lot of controversies. This has raised quite a few questions at times, though the Catalan giants have managed to settle things out and are still going strong. Recent incidents have showcased how the Spanish giants have managed to get things done, without landing into too much trouble and this has been a strong point for them.

These players have helped the club win titles over the years and signing them has been a huge bonus in the long-run. However, not all of them were executed cleanly.

Here are three of the most controversial transfers involving the Blaugrana.

Luis Figo To Real Madrid:

Luis Figo

Though before July 2000, a total of 17 players had already made the move from Barcelona to Real Madrid, this one was a rather controversial one in its own sense and added more bitterness to the rivalry between the two clubs. Luis Figo was one of Barca’s biggest stars back then and had already helped them win consecutive league titles and various other cups as well, helping the Catalan giants establish themselves as a top European club in the modern era.

Just when things seemed perfect, Figo had, however, agreed a pre-contract deal with Los Blancos, including a huge penalty of €26m for failing to join Real.

When the story had leaked to the media, the player had assured a Catalan newspaper that he would be at the Nou Camp for the start of the upcoming campaign on the 24th of July. However, on that date, he was unveiled as Real Madrid's new No.10. The deal was completed for a then world-record fee of €62m, which was a huge shock for the fans across the globe.

Neymar Jr. from Santos:

Neymar

What was considered to be one of the best signings of the decade, things did not end too well in the signing of Neymar Jr. from Santos. The deal may have really helped Barca rise once again to the top of the ladder in European football, but it was at the heart of some major controversy. The Spanish outfit had been accused of concealing part of Neymar’s transfer fee, as the player made the move to the Nou Camp back in 2013.

There was an inquiry held on the matter, which went on for a few years and eventually the club had to pay a fine of £4.4m to the Spanish authorities, for the tax fraud that they had committed back then. It was once again a stain on the club’s history and they would surely want to put that incident in the past now, as they look to resign the Brazilian international.

Antoine Griezmann from Atletico Madrid:

Antoine Griezmann

The latest deal that has been completed by the La Liga side has been once again surrounded by controversy. 28-year-old French World Cup winner Antoine Griezmann recently made the switch away from Atletico Madrid for a fee of €120m, with his release dropping from €200m.

Despite that, Atletico Madrid are still not happy with the money they got (claiming his true value to be €200m) and the move was one year in the making, while Barca was trying to negotiate a fee.

It is being suggested that Griezmann was unknowingly featured in a documentary that was released to suggest that he would be staying in Madrid last year. Furthermore, Atletico asked him to make a video on the 14th of May (2019), stating that he would be leaving in order to sign Joao Felix as his replacement.

Further, Atletico’s allegations added that Griezmann had already agreed to join Barça, after the club’s loss to Juventus in the last 16 of the Champions League. Amid all these claims, the deal was completed, but the controversy has still not ended.