World Football Transfers: The 15 Biggest Superstar Transfers of All Time
With the transfer season in full force and more money being shelled out than ever and superstars switching from big club to another big club becoming a regularity, it is time to look back on 15 of the biggest superstar transfers of all time.
From Cristiano Ronaldo to Ronaldo, from David Beckham to Alan Shearer and many more, here are the 15 biggest superstar transfers of all time.
Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United to Real Madrid
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Cristiano Ronaldo had long been rumored to leave Manchester United, and during the summer of 2009, rumor became truth.
The Portuguese winger joined the new Galacticos era at the Bernabeu by joining Madrid for a record £80 million.
The largest fee in European club history has been well worth it with Ronaldo scoring 54 goals in all competitions this season.
Robinho, Real Madrid to Manchester City
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The move that started it all at Eastlands on Sept. 1, 2008, the final day of the transfer window when the new owners of Manchester City made a splash and signed the Brazilian from Real Madrid for £32.5 million.
The move proved to be unsuccessful due to the combination of injuries and the amount of big name players brought into Eastlands.
Carlos Tevez, Manchester United to Manchester City
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A transfer that has not backfired on Manchester City is the one of the Argentine forward from rivals Manchester United.
Carlos Tevez left United because he claimed he was not given enough time in the first team by Sir Alex Ferguson.
Tevez has definitely had first team time with City under Mark Hughes and Roberto Mancini by scoring 43 goals in 65 appearances for the Eastlands club.
Luis Figo, Barcelona to Real Madrid
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Luis Figo did the unthinkable in 2000 as he moved from the Nou Camp to the Bernabeu as the first signing of the first Galacticos era under Madrid president Florentino Perez.
The Portuguese midfielder enjoyed five season at Madrid by winning two La Liga titles and a UEFA Champions League title in the 2001-02 season.
Figo moved on from the Bernabeu to another historic team, Inter Milan, in 2005 and retired in 2009 after a 20-year career.
Ronaldo, Inter Milan to Real Madrid
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The Brazilian legend joined the first Galacticos era at the Bernabeu at the beginning of the 2002-03 season from Inter.
Before the nagging injuries and weight issues that plagued the back end of his career with Madrid, Ronaldo netted 83 goals in 127 appearances and won two La Liga titles.
After leaving the Bernabeu, Ronaldo moved back to Milan, but this time with AC Milan before spending the final years of his career at Corinthians in Brazil before retiring in February.
Zinedine Zidane, Juventus to Real Madrid
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Before being known for his headbutt of Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup Final, Zidane was known for being the best player in the world.
In 2001, Madrid yet again broke the world record transfer fee, this time it was £48 million for the Frenchman.
Zidane spent his final five seasons in football at Madrid during the first Galacticos era before retiring after the 2006 World Cup.
Zizou's career achievements include the 1998 World Cup title with France and winning the Ballon d'Or in the same year as well as being named FIFA World Player of the Year three times.
Gianluigi Buffon, Parma to Juventus
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Buffon has been one of the most consistent keepers in the world and has stuck with the Turin club through many ups and downs.
Since joining the Bianconeri in 2001, Buffon has made 290 appearances for the club in Serie A and Serie B for a year after being demoted due to the Calciopoli scandal in Italy.
Buffon has also won a World Cup with Italy in 2006 and at the age of 33, is always being rumored with Europe's big clubs, especially with Juventus not being as successful as they were in the past.
Fans must give credit to the loyalty that the goalkeeper has shown as could have left at many times during his career.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic/Samuel Eto'o, Barcelona and Inter Swap Forwards
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While the Galactico resurrection was going on at Real Madrid, one of the biggest moves of the summer of 2009 when Barcelona and Inter Milan decided to swap their top goal scorers.
Samuel Eto'o moved from Barcelona to Inter for Zlatan Ibrahimovic in a swap that would prove a good signing for one and a transfer one year later for the other.
Eto'o has enjoyed his time at Inter winning Serie A and the UEFA Champions League under Jose Mourinho in his first season at the San Siro.
Ibrahimovic spent only one season in the Barca lineup before being loaned to and eventually signed by AC Milan.
Johan Cruyff, Ajax to Barcelona
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After spending nine years in Amsterdam at Ajax, the European Player of the Century signed with Barcelona in 1973.
The Dutchman helped Barca win La Liga in his first season and led the cup to even more success while managing the club from 1988 to 1996, helping the Catalans win four La Liga titles and the 1992 European Cup.
David Beckham, Real Madrid to LA Galaxy
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In a move that introduced a whole new dimension to Major League Soccer, David Beckham was brought in from the Bernabeu in 2007.
With the introduction of Beckham as a designated player, it has allowed MLS clubs to sign international stars like Theirry Henry, Rafa Marquez, Nery Castillo and Cuauhtemoc Blanco.
Beckham has been rumored to leave the Galaxy in the past year or two with two loan spells at AC Milan and with heavy pursuit from Tottenham last January, but the Englishman has stayed put in Los Angeles for now.
Thierry Henry, Arsenal to Barcelona
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After eight years in London with Arsenal, Henry moved to the Nou Camp in 2007 to join Barcelona.
The Frenchman scored 174 goals for Arsenal and put up 35 for Barca in his three seasons there before making a move that was expected to the New York Red Bulls last summer.
Henry achievements in Europe include a UEFA Champions League title with Barcelona and four league titles, two each with Arsenal and Barca.
Fernando Torres, Liverpool to Chelsea
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El Nino thrived at Liverpool for three-and-a-half years and with the Spanish national team since 2003, but a change in ownership and management at Anfield last October put the Spainard's Merseyside career in jeopardy.
Fernando Torres moved to Stamford Bridge to make room for Luis Suarez and Andy Carroll to move into the forward positions at Anfield.
After making the move in January, Torres scored only one goal for the Blues as they came up short in their bid to repeat as Premier League champions.
Eric Cantona, Leeds United to Manchester United
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Who knew that in 1992 when Manchester United signed Cantona from Leeds, he would become at legend at Old Trafford?
Cantona, who had spent time at seven different clubs in nine years, had a very successful five-year career under Sir Alex Ferguson at United.
Sixty-four goals in 144 league appearances later and the Frenchman made the No. 7 shirt at United very difficult to put on because of the performances he put in while winning four Premier League titles and two FA Cups.
Cantona is now the Director of Soccer with the revived New York Cosmos club, who are trying to get into Major League Soccer.
Alan Shearer, Blackburn Rovers to Newcastle United
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Alan Shearer is one of the great goal scorers in the Premier League, and he helped Rovers win the 1994-95 Premier League title and scored 112 goals in 138 league appearances.
But it was at Newcastle where Shearer cemented his legacy.
A record breaking, at that time, £15 million was spent on the Englishman by Newcastle to secure his services, and for the next decade, Shearer did not disappoint.
Shearer scored 206 goals in all competitions, 148 in the Premier League for the Magpies and even managed the side for the final eight games of the 2008-09 season when the club were relegated to the Championship.
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