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Football fans are known to be fiercely passionate about their club. They follow the club religiously and form a deep-rooted and lifelong connection. Sometimes it is easy to forget that footballing superstars began as fans of the sport as well. The superstars of now have had their own favorite clubs in the past.
A bevy of footballers have supported rival clubs in the past
The players today are highly professional and strongly pledge allegiance to their club. However, there have been instances where they have supported a different club in the past including their rivals!
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Media and entertainment have become an integral part of the football industry. This has led to many players divulging their early lives in interviews. Several stars have admitted to supporting their team’s rivals while growing up. Nonetheless, they have left behind past alliances and given their all while playing for their current club.
Here we take a look at five famous players who used to support their rival clubs.
#5 Paul Pogba (Arsenal)
At the age of 16, Paul Pogba joined the Manchester United youth team from Le Havre in 2009. He left for Juventus in 2012 and then made his Old Trafford comeback four years later. He joined the Red Devils for a fee close to €105 million, then a world-record transfer fee.
Pogba admitted in an interview that the Gunners were one of his favorite teams growing up. He revealed that the presence of top French players such as Patrick Vieira, Thierry Henry and Robert Pires at Arsenal strengthened his affection towards the club. He also said that all-time Premier League great Thierry Henry was one of his idols.
Pogba had a brilliant start to this season’s Premier League, providing seven assists in just four games. Much to the dismay of fans, his form dipped massively. He also sustained an injury during training with the French national team and was sent off in Manchester United's game against Liverpool. This has seen him miss a number of matches.
#4 Raheem Sterling (Manchester United)
Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling has dazzled the world with his skills on the wing. One of the best wingers in the Premier League, Raheem Sterling, was a Manchester United supporter when he was young. Sterling has played for Manchester United’s two biggest rivals, Manchester City and Liverpool.
The Englishman revealed in an interview that he attended the 2007 FA Cup final between Manchester United and Chelsea. Although the Red Devils lost 1-0, he stated that the game still inspired him. He started his Premier League career with Liverpool’s youth team and was promoted to the senior squad after impressing everyone.
Sterling later joined Manchester City in 2015 for €63.70 million. Oddly enough, Sterling is yet to score against his boyhood favorite club. Now a key member for club and country, Sterling has been incredible on the wing and has bolstered their attack.
#3 Luke Shaw (Chelsea)
Having started his career at Southampton, Luke Shaw signed for Manchester United in 2014 for around £30 million. The talented left-back is adept in attack and defense and is a fan-favourite.
However, growing up in southwest London, Shaw was heavily influenced by Chelsea. He confessed in an interview that he was a Blues fan as a kid.
The Englishman supported Chelsea and particularly admired two Blues players. He said that Didier Drogba was his hero but wanted to become a footballer like legendary left-back Ashley Cole. Shaw even played at Chelsea’s development center for a while before joining Southampton's academy.
Shaw has had some rough times at Old Trafford in the past, with several injuries hampering his performances. However, his last season with the Red Devils was arguably his best. Shaw was named Manchester United’s Players' Player of the Year at the end of last season because of his brilliant performances.
#2 Kevin De Bruyne (Liverpool)
One of the greatest midfielders in recent times, Kevin De Bruyne, is a master technician and midfield maestro. His ability to find strikers with brilliant through balls and crosses is incredible. Highly influential in Manchester City's midfield, the Belgian has helped his side to Premier League glory.
De Bruyne revealed that he was an ardent Liverpool supporter as a child, along with a few family members who were English residents. As a kid, De Bruyne owned Liverpool tracksuits and a worn-out Michael Owen replica shirt. He also admitted that he idolized Owen and compared himself to the English legend while playing.
The 2019-20 Premier League Player of the Season has not featured in several games this season. This is due to injury initially and later due to contracting the Covid-19 virus.
Manchester City have dominated the Premier League in recent years but are gunning for an elusive Champions League title. De Bruyne will hope to be back to his best soon and lend a hand to the cause.
#1 Luka Modric (Barcelona)
There are few rivalries as fierce as the El Clasico. For several decades, Spanish behemoths Barcelona and Real Madrid have pushed each other to their limits. Both clubs have seen some greats play for them and one of them is Real Madrid's Luka Modric.
However, Los Blancos fans may be irked because Luka Modric was a huge Barcelona fan as a kid.
Modric's Croatian compatriot Ivan Rakitic revealed that they often joked about how much the 2018 Ballon d'Or winner adored the Blaugrana. Modric was rumored to have joined Barcelona back in 2008, but the deal didn't materialize. After an impressive couple of seasons with Dinamo Zagreb, he was picked up by Tottenham Hotspur instead. He was then picked up by Real Madrid in 2012.
The midfield maestro may have been a Barcelona fan in the past, but he is a true professional and has left his past behind. A magician in midfield, Modric has been crucial to Real's recent success. He carried his national team to their first-ever World Cup final in 2018 as well, which they eventually lost to France.
