7 stars who joined their rival and won the title in the very next season

#5 Luis Figo

Luis Figo chose the dangerous path between Barcelona and Real Madrid

Luis Figo’s move to Real Madrid was not just a direct move between rivals, it was a move that defined an era at Real Madrid and one that raised the bar of El Clasico.

Figo was an adored member of the Barcelona side during his five-year stint during which he won seven trophies. However, in 2000, a defining change happened in Madrid as Florentino Perez took over President of Real Madrid.

Perez had a dream and the world soon named that dream Galacticos.

Perez was on a mission to assemble a team of superstars that he hoped would take Real Madrid to the pinnacle of club football and the first piece of that puzzle was one that irked Barcelona fans.

Real Madrid activated a release clause in Figo’s contract and in the process broke the world record transfer fee. Something they would also go on to break four more times in the next thirteen years.

Figo became the poster boy of the new Barcelona-Real Madrid rivalry and nothing short of a league title would have helped the Los Blancos in his debut season after the furore they caused. He scored 14 goals in his debut season as Real were crowned Spanish champions.

The first match at Nou Camp after this transfer was one that shocked every Real Madrid player as the hatred for Figo created one of the most intimidating atmospheres one could fathom. His second return to the ground produced one of the most iconic images in the history of the rivalry - a pig’s head among the objects that were thrown at Figo.

Figo spent five years at Real Madrid too winning seven trophies including two La Liga titles and his only Champions League title.