5 players who fell out of love with their clubs after being linked to another 

“They need you right now,” said the Joker to the Batman, “but when they don’t, they will cast you out – like a leper!” He then continues, “their ‘morals’, their ‘code’… it is a bad joke, dropped at the first sign of trouble… When the chips are down, these, ahhh, civilised people, they will eat each other."

At the end of the movie, when none of the ferries is blown up, you would think that the Joker was wrong – but it is only a movie after all. If that scenario took place in real life, one of the boats would definitely have turned to ashes before the clock struck 12.

You see, this is human nature – we only love people as long as they mean something to us. When they don’t, however, they are nothing but a speck of dust to us. This might sound harsh, especially if you are a kid for whom everything is still green and rosy, but it is the truth.

One moment, fans are cheering for a player. The very next, they are jeering him. What did you think, that football was beyond this? Nah, football is the ultimate epitome of human nature. When a said player is doing well for his team, he is a hero, a legend, better than the rest.

If, however, he chooses to leave for a better offer at another club – just like any normal person would when they get a better job – he becomes a scum, a Judas and an overrated player that bottles chances.

You once used to show his skills montage to your pals, you wanted them to revere him as much as you do. Now, you show them videos of the times he missed easy scoring chances or scored own goals or earned red cards.

This works the other way around too. Clubs that mould a player into a beast are often left hurt when the said player shows his back and leaves them at a time when they would have benefited a lot from his presence.

The quest for more always seems to hurt people. More money, more trophies, more everything… the thirst is never quenched, the hunger is never satiated.

And here are 5 players who fell out of love with their clubs after being linked to another club in the quest for more…

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#5 Neymar

Obviously, we will start off with Neymar here. Remember what I wrote above about fans showing videos to their pals? When Neymar’s deal to Paris-Saint German seemed imminent, videos of Neymar missing chances from Lionel Messi through-balls emerged and were being shared all over the social media.

This is the same Neymar, mind you, who, for them, was better than Cristiano Ronaldo. They shoved skill videos of Neymar on almost anyone’s face that believed that the Portuguese was the superior footballer; such was the adulation that he received – and he deserved it, he was indeed their second best player.

However, the moment PSG-links became serious and Neymar opted to stay silent on them, fans started picking on him one by one. But this is more about Neymar losing interest to play for Barcelona after being contacted by PSG.

The shadowing presence of Messi was always going to be difficult to get out of while at Barcelona. Indeed, after Neymar inspired a 6-1 victory against PSG in the Champions League round of 16, it was Lionel Messi who stole the show with the everlasting pic of him celebrating with the fans.

So when PSG came calling with a record £199 million bid, Neymar had made up his mind that he was going to be a big fish in a small pond rather than be a yellow-fish tuna to Lionel’s blue whale in the Barca Ocean.

#4 Fernando Torres

Fernando Torres was adored by Liverpool fans

Six-and-a-half years down the line, Fernando Torres must be regretting his move from Liverpool to Chelsea. The Spaniard was a sweetheart for the Merseyside fans, but broke their hearts when he submitted a transfer request on deadline day of the January transfer window in 2011.

It was a poorly thought-out and insensitive decision on Torres’s behalf because he didn’t leave Liverpool with any time to sign a replacement – and, obviously, it was midseason, so Liverpool were in a rut.

As soon as Chelsea were linked with the former Atletico Madrid man, his heads turned and he wanted to pack his bags and move to London.

He ultimately got his desires fulfilled as Liverpool sold him to Chelsea for a then British record fee of £50 million, but it turned out to be a very ill-fated move as his time at Chelsea saw the worst version of the player that once wreaked havoc against Premier League defences.

However, he did win a Champions League with Chelsea in 2012.

#3 Luis Figo

Figo represented Barcelona, that's why his move hurt them so much

This is basically the mother of all transfers to a rival club. The younger ones won’t understand the magnitude of this deal, so here is how I will put it: imagine if Real Madrid paid £199 million to activate Neymar’s buy-out clause and Neymar actually agreed to join them.

Pretty chaotic, isn’t it? The trails of this transfer would have created such a quagmire that the relationship between the two clubs would be at an all-time low – just like it was when Luis Figo joined Real Madrid from Barcelona.

"I did not want to quit Barcelona at the time, I just wanted them to acknowledge my quality. He [Nunez – then sitting Barcelona president] was just saying he would wait for someone to pay my buy-out clause. The Barcelona presidential candidate, Gaspart, wanted me to continue, but I did not trust the promises he had made me. Finally, Perez won the elections at Real and I assumed the responsibility of finalising what Veiga [Figo’s agent] had agreed weeks before.

"I flew to Lisbon the day after the elections, and I went to Veiga's office. When I arrived and entered the room, there were about 10 people sitting around a table, all trying to convince me to sign on that moment. That's when I called my wife and told her, 'That's it, I am joining Real Madrid'. I did not return to Barcelona."

That’s the call of Real Madrid; it only comes once.

#2 Robin van Persie

Robin van Persie has been Judas by many Arsenal fans

Ask any Arsenal fan about this move and it will open up some wounds that are perhaps still very fresh. The Dutchman was one of Arsenal’s finest players, but always succumbed to injuries and could never really get his career off to a flyer with the North London club.

However, he really took off in the 2011-12 season, his final season with the Gunners, scoring 37 goals in 48 games. After the season, he had only one year left on his contract – and Sir Alex Ferguson took advantage of it.

The Scot moved in quick and bought the former Feyenoord player for £24 million – a tad too much for a player in the last year of his contract, but he did score 58 goals in 105 games for the Red Devils.

It goes without saying that Arsenal didn’t want to sell him to a direct rival, but he refused to sign a new contract with Arsenal, forcing their hand into making the transfer.

"I always listen to the little boy inside of me in these situations – when you have to make the harder decisions in life. What does he want? That boy was screaming for Man United. From my side, and Arsenal as well, there are no hard feelings. There were certain elements which were vital to me that we had a different view. That is life. Nobody is angry at me and I'm not angry at them."

Not sure about the last part, mate.

#1 Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo forced through a move to Real Madrid

The strangest thing about Cristiano Ronaldo is that while Real Madrid fans don’t think twice before booing him, Manchester United fans still revere him – even after the way he forced his move to the Madrid outfit. Yes, there are some who might not have a liking for him, but I am yet to see Red Devil fan spewing hate towards him.

But it was this very Cristiano who pushed for a move to Real Madrid after Sir Alex Ferguson had refused to entertain his request. The moment the Blancos showed their interest in signing the Portuguese, he has made up his mind to go.

When refused, then FIFA president, Sepp Blatter, said that he “was very much in sympathy” with the Whites while claiming that there was “too much modern day slavery” going on in football.

In response, Cristiano said: "I agree with what he said [about modern-day slavery].

"It's true. I agree with what the president of Fifa said. I know what I want and what I would like. We have to see what happens. I do not know where I will begin next season."

Ultimately, his wishes came to fruition after he joined Real Madrid for a then world record fee of £80 million. It was a great move on a personal front for Cristiano Ronaldo as he has three more Ballon d’Ors and two more league titles.