The world of football has seen players moving clubs at skyrocketing transfer prices, recently. The influx of big money in the game has inflated player valuation to such an extent that mediocre players often get bids of enormous values.
At the same time, there have been instances where players have not signed/been offered a contract and ultimately left the club for free. History has witnessed certain transfers where a player of great calibre has left the club for free and made their former club regret the move heavily.
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Sportskeeda brings to you 5 players who made their clubs regret after moving away on a free transfer:
#5 Sol Campbell
The Englishman was a much-loved figure at Tottenham, where he spent 9 years and even captained the side for quite some time. However, all this counted for nothing as the player made the switch to direct rivals Arsenal in 2001 on a free transfer.
The North Londoners were stunned by this development as no one had expected their captain to join their arch rivals. The mere fact that it was a free transfer was a cause of further pain and anger for the fans of Tottenham.
(Video Courtesy: Legend HD YouTube Channel)
Campbell wanted to play for a club which played in the Champions League and had set his sights on a move to Arsenal. The Englishman stayed at the club for a period of 5 years, making a total of 197 appearances for the club where he won the Premier League and the FA Cup twice. He was also the defensive backbone of the ‘Invincibles’ squad that won the league title without losing a single game. Funnily, the English defender played for 6 clubs over his career and all of the moves were free transfers.
#4 Robert Lewandowski
Back in the winter of 2013, Borussia Dortmund’s star striker Robert Lewandowski revealed his intention to join arch rivals Bayern Munich. The move sent shockwaves through the football world as the player had almost no time left on his contract which would run out in the following summer.
The player signed a pre-contractual agreement with Bayern Munich and finally made the switch in the coming summer.
(Video Courtesy: JavierNathaniel YouTube Channel)
A quality player like Lewandowski would easily command a price upwards of £50m, however, Bayern landed the Polish forward for no transfer fee and this deal is easily some of the best bit of business in Bayern’s history.
Lewandowski’s transfer hurt Dortmund’s title charge and their fanbase the most, as the club has failed to win anything significant since then.
#4 Paul Pogba
Quite possibly one of Sir Alex’s biggest mistakes, Paul Pogba left the Red Devils for Juventus on a free transfer. The player left after clashing with the manager over his role in the squad. Pogba believed that he was good enough to play for the senior team, whereas Sir Alex was apprehensive about the same.
The Frenchman was also accused of being disrespectful and the entire saga was bitter from the start to the end.
(Video Courtesy: rom7ooo YouTube Channel)
The midfielder answered back in style as he put in some sizzling performances for Juventus. In the 4 seasons that he spent at the Italian club, Pogba quickly became one of the best young players in the world.
His talent was so enormous and the room for further improvement so high that the Red Devils ended up buying him back for a mammoth price of £89.3 million.
The Italian won the Serie A and the Champions League twice in his tenure at Milan over 10 long years. The deep-lying playmaker was one of their best players and won numerous trophies at the club. However, in 2011, the player decided to not renew his contract, which he claimed was a mutual decision.
He bid adieu to the club and joined Juventus on a free transfer. The player instantly became a success at the club and won 4 consecutive titles with the Bianconeri. The player was a superb signing and slotted perfectly in the midfield under Antonio Conte, who was then the Juventus manager.
(Video Courtesy: JuventusHighlightsTV YouTube Channel)
On the other hand, Milan slowly lost their sheen and are now no more a European powerhouse. Since Pirlo’s departure, the club has won nothing of significance and the fans would have surely noticed this. Juventus meanwhile have won 4 Serie A titles and featured in a Champions League final as well.
#1 Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Zlatan Ibrahimovic is the newest entrant to this list having made the move from PSG to Manchester United last year on a free move, which was hailed by Manchester United fans. The Swedish striker spent 4 seasons at the French club and scored a massive 156 goals for them. At PSG, he won 4 consecutive Ligue 1 titles and was the Ligue 1 top scorer thrice.
The striker surpassed Pauleta and became the top scorer for the club.
(Video Courtest: Vanemas YouTube Channel)
In the summer of 2016, Ibrahimovic decided to switch clubs and moved on a free transfer to Manchester United, who had just appointed Jose Mourinho as their manager. The player shared a great equation with the Portuguese from their time at Inter Milan and has repaid his manager’s faith by putting in impressive performances.
Although it’s only been half a season since his signing, the Swede is currently the top scorer for United. His departure meant that Cavani had to be moved to the role of the centre forward at PSG and are currently 3rd, 5 points behind table toppers OG Nice.
