Football Traitors: 5 Players Who Turned Their Backs On Their Clubs

It is widely anticipated now that Wayne Rooney will leave Manchester United in the January transfer window with one of the potential destinations being hated rivals Manchester City

Almost every team has a certain player who got his head turned due to higher wages and bigger stadiums and a chance for stealing the limelight elsewhere and decided they could live with forever being booed each time they touched the ball at their former club.

Here I have compiled a list of five players who turned their backs on their clubs in the past decade.

Ashely Cole

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PARIS - MAY 17: Ashley Cole of Arsenal holds his head in despair after his teams defeat in the UEFA Champions League Final between Arsenal and Barcelona at the Stade de France on May 17, 2006 in Paris, France. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)

Ashley Cole joined Chelsea after Arsenal's piss take offer of £55,000 a week!

"I was so incensed. I was trembling with anger. I couldn't believe what I'd heard."

Ashley was renamed Cashley by the Arsenal fans, and when he faced his old side for the first time, he was faced with thousands of Gunners brandishing fake £20 notes in his direction.

Wayne Rooney

Everton fans display their anger As Rooney returns to Goodison.

Wayne Rooney unveiled a t-shirt bearing the slogan “Once a Blue always a Blue” after he scored for Everton in the 2002 FA Youth Cup final and then joined Manchester United in 2004.

Jermain Defoe

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BERNE, SWITZERLAND - AUGUST 17: Jermain Defoe of Tottenham rues a missed chance during the UEFA Champions League Play-Off first leg match between BSC Young Boys and Tottenham Hotspur at the Stade de Suisse on August 17, 2010 in Berne, Switzerland. (Phot

For turning his back on Charlton to sign for West Ham. For handing in a transfer request within 24 hours of West Ham’s relegation in 2003 to move to Tottenham.

Alan Smith

The proud badge kisser ? Ehh

For joining hated rivals Manchester United weeks after Leeds United were relegated from the Premier League.

Sol Campbell

Sol Campbell is arguably the biggest traitor of recent times in England. Started playing for Tottenham as a 15 year old, he played 12 years for Tottenham amassing 300 plus appearances.

But then he ran down his contract despite being offered a contract that would make him the highest paid player at the club and joined Spurs most hated rivals Arsenal on a free transfer.