EL CLASSICO; Real Madrid vs. Barcelona. More than a game.
A coming together known by football fans across the world as one of the most passionate and thrilling derbies in the modern game.
Outsiders cannot exaggerate the true and bitter dislike that each side feels towards the other. Competing for major honours in Spain and through European competition has only intensified a rivalry which stems from conflict between the regions of Catalonia and Castile. Both political and cultural tensions fuel the competition between the largest and second largest cities in Spain, and on the pitch, as well as in the stands, Barcelona against Real Madrid is the ultimate derby.
Real Madrid were the kings of Europe throughout the 1950’s winning five consecutive European Cups and in the late 1990’s becoming ‘Los Galacticos’ by continually signing superstars from around the globe.
Barcelona begun to gain an advantage under first Frank Rijkard and and then Pep Guardiola who has led them to two European Cups and a hat trick of league titles between 2008-11.
Real look set to win a 31st league title in 2012 however as Jose Mourinho’s Real team enter this weekend with a two point lead in La Liga as the team’s go head-to-head in Saturday’s El Derby. As well as looking to strike a blow to their opponents championship challenge, both Spanish clubs face a deficit in their respective mid-week Champions League semi-final ties, despite beings favourites to reach the final in Munich from the outset.
Despite their huge and historied rivalry, a total of 33 players have played for both Real Madrid and Barcelona throughout their careers, here are some of those who have crossed the divide:
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The rivalry between the two clubs was partly stoked up by the disputed signed of future World Player of the Year, Alfredo di Stefano. The Argentine impressed both clubs whilst playing in Columbia during a player’s strike in his homeland and was immediately courted by both Barca and Real Madrid.
Protracted negotiations took place between the player and each club, but each claimed to own the player’s registration and came to a dispute. After intervention from a FIFA representative, it was decided that both Spanish rivals should share the player in alternate seasons. Barcelona’s Franco-imposed president backed away from the deal after Di Stefano made a few appearances for the club, and he moved permanently to Real Madrid in 1953.
The Argentine became integral in the club’s subsequent success, scoring twice in his first appearance against Barcelona, and helping Real win the European Cup in 1960.
Although Di Stefano never technically transferred from Barcelona to Real Madrid, he is one player who represented both teams.
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Alfonso Albeniz – History was made on two counts in 1903 as Real Madrid won their first ever trophy. Earlier that year Alfonso Albeniz had became the first player to transfer between the fledgling Los Merengues side and F.C. Barcelona. No transfer fee was involved but the transaction was made on May 23rd just months before Madrid’s first season in existence ended in silverware
Luciano Lizarraga – Two years later, Lizarraga followed Albeniz in making history when he became the first player to transfer from Barcelona to Real Madrid directly. Barca had begun their existence in 1899, and were playing in regional and national clubs at this stage so the rivalry was much less heated when the Spaniard swapped the capital for Catalonia.
Charles Wallace – Englishman Charles Wallace was the first non-Spanish player to transfer between Barcelona and Real Madrid when he moved to the capital’s team in 1906. As well as representing both Spanish giants, Wallace went on to play for Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Oldham Athletic in his native country, and he made history in 1913 when he became the first player to miss a penalty in the FA Cup final.
Bernd Schuster – Affectionately known as “der Blonde Engel” (The Blonde Angel), Schuster moved from 1. FC Koln to Barcelona after two seasons in his native Germany. In 1980 he began an eight year spell at the Nou Camp and flourished as an attacking midfielder in the club’s flowing possession game.
He won the European Silver Ball in his first season, and the Bronze Ball a year later and again in 1985. Injury ended his spell in Catalonia, and in 1988 Real made a decision to pick up his signature in controversial fashion. Schuster’s style and skills enabled him to blend in the Real squad nicely, and he won La Liga in two consecutive seasons (1989 and 1990).
The West German international retired from the game in 1997 and stepped into management a year later. He returned to former club Real Madrid in 2007 when the club brought out his existing contract at Getafe. Schuster guided Madrid to their 31st league title and achieved a record points total in the Spanish league.
Gheorghe Hagi – The Romanian midfielder moved to the Bernabeu after succeeding in his early career at Steaua Bucuresti where he had turned professional in 1982. The La Liga side paid £2.5m for his services and he stayed in Spain for two seasons before moving to Brescia of Serie A. Although he won only one honour as part of the Real Madrid squad, impressing for Romania in World Cup ’94 was enough to secure a return to Spain with Barcelona.
Due to injury he played only 36 games as a Barca player and during this period the club had a succession of excellent players in midfield positions. This meant Hagi struggled to break into the team, and two years later moved to Galatasary in Turkey where he became highly successful and hugely popular with supporters of the club.
Hagi retired as a Gala player in 2001 and took over as manager of Romania in the same year.
Michael Laudrup – As one of Europe’s most skilful players Laudrup played more than 100 games for Juventus before signing for Barcelona under Johan Cruyff. He was a pillar of the club’s “Dream Team” as the club won La Liga four years in a row as well as the European Cup in 1992.
He was twice chosen as ‘Player of the Year’ in Spain on two occasions, but when Barca signed Romario in 1993, restrictions of foreigners meant that the club had to rotate its stars, including Laudrup, and led to less playing time for the Danish international.
Team mate Koeman described him as “The most skilful and elegant player I’ve ever played with” but in 1994 he completed a controversial move to Real Madrid after falling out with Cruyff.
The playmaker helped Real win a championship, and ending Barcelona’s dominance of the Spanish league. Coming to the end of his career, inconsistent performances began to creep into his game and he remained for only two seasons at the Bernabeu.
Laudrup took up coaching with the Danish national team in 2000, when he became an assistant coach. His latest job in management was working with Mallorca in Spain, but since 2011 he has been without a club.
Robert Prosinecki – Regarded as one of the finest Croatian footballers of all time, the midfielder moved from Yugoslavian club Dynamo Zagreb to Real Madrid for a fee of £10m in 1991.
As a 22-year old in foreign climbs, the midfielder was coached by Radomir Antic who personally asked to bring in the highly rated player. Prosinecki won the Copa del Rey in 1993, but suffered a great deal with injuries which forced him to miss a large portion of the games in his first eighteen months as a Madrid player.
After playing 29 games and scoring six goals for Real in the league, he was moved on to Real Oviedo after the Madrid brass decided that his physical fragility and lifestyle choices were too much to deal with.
He managed to shake off injuries in northern Spain, and soon he was enticed back into the bright lights by Barcelona who added to their talented squad of players in 1995. He played a single season at the Nou Camp, but struggled to break into the first team and moved onto his fourth Spanish club, Sevilla.
Prosinecki continued to play professionally until 2004 when he retired from the game. Two years later he returned to football to work as an assistant coach for the Croatian national team under Slaven Billic before taking him his first head coaching role as the manager of Red Star Redgrave.
Luis Enrique – The former Sporting Gijon youth player made a move to Real Madrid in 1991 as a twenty one year old. He played over 150 games for the club, winning La Liga in 1994-5 and the Copa del Rey in 1992-3 before making a stunning move by seeing out his contract and moving to bitter rivals Barcelona.
In his first three seasons at the Nou Camp he claimed two winners medals and scored 46 goals as Barcelona managed to dominate La Liga ahead of Luis Enrique’s old club.
With the Catalan club he also claimed European honours in the 1997 Cup Winners Cup final and the following season’s UEFA Super Cup.
He eventually became the club’s first team captain before deciding to retire from football at the age of 34. Four years after leaving the club as a player, he stepped back into the Barcelona family by becoming the coach of the club’s ‘B’ team in 2008. He helped the club return to Liga B in his second season, and before announcing his intention to join Roma as the manager of the Serie A club, he helped Barcelona B finish in the top two of the division.
Ronaldo – Between 1994-96, the Brazilian striker scored an incredible 42 goals in 46 games for PSV and attracted the attention of Europe’s top club, Barcelona. The club paid £10m for his services and were immediately rewarded with a return of 47 goals in 49 games which lead the Catalan side to the UEFA Cup Winners Cup, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de Espana. He also won the La Liga top scorer award with 34 goals in 37 games, and was named as FIFA World player of the year, the youngest person to do so at the age of 20.
Problems with contract re-negotiations led to Ronaldo paying the buy out fee in his contract and signing for Inter Milan in the summer of 1997. He continued to prosper despite a serious knee injury in Italy and he continued his phenomenal scoring record with 49 goals in 68 games.
After his performances in the 2002 World Cup which saw him claim a second winners’ medal, and win the Golden Boot, Real Madrid paid a world record fee of €46m and despite being sidelined when initially joining the club, there was great anticipation about his arrival in Spain.
Success came immediately, and he scored 23 goals in his first season as Real won the Intercontinental Cup and finished runners up in La Liga. He won the league with the club in 2003 and completed the double with victory in the Spanish Cup.
Ronaldo remained at Real Madrid until 2006 when he began to grow out of favour due to nagging injuries and the signing of Ruud Van Nistelrooy. The Brazilian striker left the Spanish capital to sign for AC Milan to become the first player to represent both Milan clubs as well as the ‘big two’ in Spain.
Samuel Eto’o – Currently plying his trade for Anzhi Makhachkala in Russia, Eto’o started his career at Real Madrid where he was forced to train with the youth team as he as only sixteen.
The club expected him to be a huge star, and to help him to develop the club loaned him to the likes of Leganes, Espanyol and Real Mallorca. In a bid to move his career to the next level, Mallorca agreed to pay £4.4m and take him away from Real Madrid. Eto’o immediately helped the club to become an established force in the Spanish league, and he seemed to make it his personal mission to score against his former club at every occasion possible.
He won the Copa del Rey in 2003, and after becoming the club’s leading all-time domestic league scorer, Barcelona came calling for him in 2004. He moved for a transfer fee of €24m, and in his spell at the Nou Camp he won the La Liga title on three occasions, the Copa del Rey in 2009 and was part of the Champions League in 2006, scoring as the club beat in the final against Manchester United in 2009.
Eto’o continued his scoring record of a goal a game against Real Madrid and it became something of a surprise when Juan Laporta, the Barca chairman, agreed to send the striker to Inter Milan in exchange for €46m and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Javier Saviola – The Argentine international striker currently plying his trade for Benfica in Portugal is the most recent player to represent both Real Madrid and Barcelona.
He impressed as a sixteen year old at River Plate and with a record of 45 goals in 86 games, there was no surprise when Barcelona agree to pay £15m for a then 19-year old Saviola. He started brightly with seventeen goals in his first campaign, but then failed to fit in as the club struggled to find an identity under van Gaal, Antic and then Frank Rijkaard. Saviola was sent on loan to Monaco and began to recapture his goalscoring form. He was still surplus to requirements the following season as Barca overhauled Real Madrid and spent a season at Sevilla on loan. The team won the UEFA Cup, beating Middlesborough in the final before he made a return to Barcelona to play out what turned out to be his final season with the club.
He played a bit-part role as Barca finished second before moving to Real Madrid when his contract expired. Saviola suffered an indifferent time at the club with the signing of Klaas Jan Huntelaar limiting his opportunities even more. He played just seventeen games in two seasons at the Bernabeu and made a move to his current club for €5m in 2009.
Real Madrid were the kings of Europe throughout the 1950’s winning five consecutive European Cups and in the late 1990’s becoming ‘Los Galacticos’ by continually signing superstars from around the globe.
Barcelona begun to gain an advantage under first Frank Rijkard and and then Pep Guardiola who has led them to two European Cups and a hat trick of league titles between 2008-11.
Real look set to win a 31st league title in 2012 however as Jose Mourinho’s Real team enter this weekend with a two point lead in La Liga as the team’s go head-to-head in Saturday’s El Derby. As well as looking to strike a blow to their opponents championship challenge, both Spanish clubs face a deficit in their respective mid-week Champions League semi-final ties, despite beings favourites to reach the final in Munich from the outset.
Despite their huge and historied rivalry, a total of 33 players have played for both Real Madrid and Barcelona throughout their careers, here are some of those who have crossed the divide:
******
The rivalry between the two clubs was partly stoked up by the disputed signed of future World Player of the Year, Alfredo di Stefano. The Argentine impressed both clubs whilst playing in Columbia during a player’s strike in his homeland and was immediately courted by both Barca and Real Madrid.
Protracted negotiations took place between the player and each club, but each claimed to own the player’s registration and came to a dispute. After intervention from a FIFA representative, it was decided that both Spanish rivals should share the player in alternate seasons. Barcelona’s Franco-imposed president backed away from the deal after Di Stefano made a few appearances for the club, and he moved permanently to Real Madrid in 1953.
The Argentine became integral in the club’s subsequent success, scoring twice in his first appearance against Barcelona, and helping Real win the European Cup in 1960.
Although Di Stefano never technically transferred from Barcelona to Real Madrid, he is one player who represented both teams.
******
Alfonso Albeniz – History was made on two counts in 1903 as Real Madrid won their first ever trophy. Earlier that year Alfonso Albeniz had became the first player to transfer between the fledgling Los Merengues side and F.C. Barcelona. No transfer fee was involved but the transaction was made on May 23rd just months before Madrid’s first season in existence ended in silverware
Luciano Lizarraga – Two years later, Lizarraga followed Albeniz in making history when he became the first player to transfer from Barcelona to Real Madrid directly. Barca had begun their existence in 1899, and were playing in regional and national clubs at this stage so the rivalry was much less heated when the Spaniard swapped the capital for Catalonia.
Charles Wallace – Englishman Charles Wallace was the first non-Spanish player to transfer between Barcelona and Real Madrid when he moved to the capital’s team in 1906. As well as representing both Spanish giants, Wallace went on to play for Aston Villa, Crystal Palace and Oldham Athletic in his native country, and he made history in 1913 when he became the first player to miss a penalty in the FA Cup final.
Bernd Schuster – Affectionately known as “der Blonde Engel” (The Blonde Angel), Schuster moved from 1. FC Koln to Barcelona after two seasons in his native Germany. In 1980 he began an eight year spell at the Nou Camp and flourished as an attacking midfielder in the club’s flowing possession game.
He won the European Silver Ball in his first season, and the Bronze Ball a year later and again in 1985. Injury ended his spell in Catalonia, and in 1988 Real made a decision to pick up his signature in controversial fashion. Schuster’s style and skills enabled him to blend in the Real squad nicely, and he won La Liga in two consecutive seasons (1989 and 1990).
The West German international retired from the game in 1997 and stepped into management a year later. He returned to former club Real Madrid in 2007 when the club brought out his existing contract at Getafe. Schuster guided Madrid to their 31st league title and achieved a record points total in the Spanish league.
Gheorghe Hagi – The Romanian midfielder moved to the Bernabeu after succeeding in his early career at Steaua Bucuresti where he had turned professional in 1982. The La Liga side paid £2.5m for his services and he stayed in Spain for two seasons before moving to Brescia of Serie A. Although he won only one honour as part of the Real Madrid squad, impressing for Romania in World Cup ’94 was enough to secure a return to Spain with Barcelona.
Due to injury he played only 36 games as a Barca player and during this period the club had a succession of excellent players in midfield positions. This meant Hagi struggled to break into the team, and two years later moved to Galatasary in Turkey where he became highly successful and hugely popular with supporters of the club.
Hagi retired as a Gala player in 2001 and took over as manager of Romania in the same year.
Michael Laudrup – As one of Europe’s most skilful players Laudrup played more than 100 games for Juventus before signing for Barcelona under Johan Cruyff. He was a pillar of the club’s “Dream Team” as the club won La Liga four years in a row as well as the European Cup in 1992.
He was twice chosen as ‘Player of the Year’ in Spain on two occasions, but when Barca signed Romario in 1993, restrictions of foreigners meant that the club had to rotate its stars, including Laudrup, and led to less playing time for the Danish international.
Team mate Koeman described him as “The most skilful and elegant player I’ve ever played with” but in 1994 he completed a controversial move to Real Madrid after falling out with Cruyff.
The playmaker helped Real win a championship, and ending Barcelona’s dominance of the Spanish league. Coming to the end of his career, inconsistent performances began to creep into his game and he remained for only two seasons at the Bernabeu.
Laudrup took up coaching with the Danish national team in 2000, when he became an assistant coach. His latest job in management was working with Mallorca in Spain, but since 2011 he has been without a club.
Robert Prosinecki – Regarded as one of the finest Croatian footballers of all time, the midfielder moved from Yugoslavian club Dynamo Zagreb to Real Madrid for a fee of £10m in 1991.
As a 22-year old in foreign climbs, the midfielder was coached by Radomir Antic who personally asked to bring in the highly rated player. Prosinecki won the Copa del Rey in 1993, but suffered a great deal with injuries which forced him to miss a large portion of the games in his first eighteen months as a Madrid player.
After playing 29 games and scoring six goals for Real in the league, he was moved on to Real Oviedo after the Madrid brass decided that his physical fragility and lifestyle choices were too much to deal with.
He managed to shake off injuries in northern Spain, and soon he was enticed back into the bright lights by Barcelona who added to their talented squad of players in 1995. He played a single season at the Nou Camp, but struggled to break into the first team and moved onto his fourth Spanish club, Sevilla.
Prosinecki continued to play professionally until 2004 when he retired from the game. Two years later he returned to football to work as an assistant coach for the Croatian national team under Slaven Billic before taking him his first head coaching role as the manager of Red Star Redgrave.
Luis Enrique – The former Sporting Gijon youth player made a move to Real Madrid in 1991 as a twenty one year old. He played over 150 games for the club, winning La Liga in 1994-5 and the Copa del Rey in 1992-3 before making a stunning move by seeing out his contract and moving to bitter rivals Barcelona.
In his first three seasons at the Nou Camp he claimed two winners medals and scored 46 goals as Barcelona managed to dominate La Liga ahead of Luis Enrique’s old club.
With the Catalan club he also claimed European honours in the 1997 Cup Winners Cup final and the following season’s UEFA Super Cup.
He eventually became the club’s first team captain before deciding to retire from football at the age of 34. Four years after leaving the club as a player, he stepped back into the Barcelona family by becoming the coach of the club’s ‘B’ team in 2008. He helped the club return to Liga B in his second season, and before announcing his intention to join Roma as the manager of the Serie A club, he helped Barcelona B finish in the top two of the division.
Ronaldo – Between 1994-96, the Brazilian striker scored an incredible 42 goals in 46 games for PSV and attracted the attention of Europe’s top club, Barcelona. The club paid £10m for his services and were immediately rewarded with a return of 47 goals in 49 games which lead the Catalan side to the UEFA Cup Winners Cup, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de Espana. He also won the La Liga top scorer award with 34 goals in 37 games, and was named as FIFA World player of the year, the youngest person to do so at the age of 20.
Problems with contract re-negotiations led to Ronaldo paying the buy out fee in his contract and signing for Inter Milan in the summer of 1997. He continued to prosper despite a serious knee injury in Italy and he continued his phenomenal scoring record with 49 goals in 68 games.
After his performances in the 2002 World Cup which saw him claim a second winners’ medal, and win the Golden Boot, Real Madrid paid a world record fee of €46m and despite being sidelined when initially joining the club, there was great anticipation about his arrival in Spain.
Success came immediately, and he scored 23 goals in his first season as Real won the Intercontinental Cup and finished runners up in La Liga. He won the league with the club in 2003 and completed the double with victory in the Spanish Cup.
Ronaldo remained at Real Madrid until 2006 when he began to grow out of favour due to nagging injuries and the signing of Ruud Van Nistelrooy. The Brazilian striker left the Spanish capital to sign for AC Milan to become the first player to represent both Milan clubs as well as the ‘big two’ in Spain.
Samuel Eto’o – Currently plying his trade for Anzhi Makhachkala in Russia, Eto’o started his career at Real Madrid where he was forced to train with the youth team as he as only sixteen.
The club expected him to be a huge star, and to help him to develop the club loaned him to the likes of Leganes, Espanyol and Real Mallorca. In a bid to move his career to the next level, Mallorca agreed to pay £4.4m and take him away from Real Madrid. Eto’o immediately helped the club to become an established force in the Spanish league, and he seemed to make it his personal mission to score against his former club at every occasion possible.
He won the Copa del Rey in 2003, and after becoming the club’s leading all-time domestic league scorer, Barcelona came calling for him in 2004. He moved for a transfer fee of €24m, and in his spell at the Nou Camp he won the La Liga title on three occasions, the Copa del Rey in 2009 and was part of the Champions League in 2006, scoring as the club beat in the final against Manchester United in 2009.
Eto’o continued his scoring record of a goal a game against Real Madrid and it became something of a surprise when Juan Laporta, the Barca chairman, agreed to send the striker to Inter Milan in exchange for €46m and Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Javier Saviola – The Argentine international striker currently plying his trade for Benfica in Portugal is the most recent player to represent both Real Madrid and Barcelona.
He impressed as a sixteen year old at River Plate and with a record of 45 goals in 86 games, there was no surprise when Barcelona agree to pay £15m for a then 19-year old Saviola. He started brightly with seventeen goals in his first campaign, but then failed to fit in as the club struggled to find an identity under van Gaal, Antic and then Frank Rijkaard. Saviola was sent on loan to Monaco and began to recapture his goalscoring form. He was still surplus to requirements the following season as Barca overhauled Real Madrid and spent a season at Sevilla on loan. The team won the UEFA Cup, beating Middlesborough in the final before he made a return to Barcelona to play out what turned out to be his final season with the club.
He played a bit-part role as Barca finished second before moving to Real Madrid when his contract expired. Saviola suffered an indifferent time at the club with the signing of Klaas Jan Huntelaar limiting his opportunities even more. He played just seventeen games in two seasons at the Bernabeu and made a move to his current club for €5m in 2009.
*Player Switches*
From Barca to Real – 17
From Barca to another club before Madrid – 4
From Madrid to Barca – 3
From Madrid to another club before Barca - 9
From Barca to Real – 17
From Barca to another club before Madrid – 4
From Madrid to Barca – 3
From Madrid to another club before Barca - 9