El Clasico: 5 facts that you did not know about the game

#5 The Laudrup Saga

Michael Laudrup played for Barcelona in 1994 and Madrid in 1995

Speaking of Michael Laudrup, a man whose name often goes under the radar while discussing the best players ever, an interesting turn of events in the year 1994 would forever be remembered in the folklore of the El Clasico.

On the 8th of January 1994, the legendary Barcelona side fresh off their third consecutive La Liga title under Johan Cruyff, welcomed Madrid for the El Clasico at Camp Nou. They would go on to demolish Madrid 5-0 in that fixture with a team containing Romario, Guardiola, Koeman, Stoichkov and, well you've guessed it, Michael Laudrup.

After the fourth consecutive La Liga title under the belt, things, however, started to take a U-turn at Barcelona. During that time, Spanish sides could only field 3 foreigners at once. Cryuff had a huge dilemma on his hand because he had 4 great foreigners in his ranks. He decided to leave Laudrup in the dugout for the European cup final of 1994, a match in which they lost 4-0 to AC Milan.

This angered Laudrup and he decided to switch colours in the summer and join their bitter rivals Real Madrid. Exactly after a year of taking part in the 5-0 Clasico win for Barcelona, Laudrup went on to represent Madrid in the Clasico. A match in which the Los Blancos ironically won 5-0. Revenge never tasted sweeter for Laudrup as he won his fifth consecutive La Liga title that season, this time with Real Madrid.