Barcelona Transfer News: 11 Most Influential Transfers in Club History
Barcelona is one of the most prestigious clubs in sports today.
From the nostalgic black and white faces in sketchy photographs we're left to envisage playing, to the modern superstars we see analysed and over-analysed with every game that passes by today.
Anyone with any knowledge of football today will tell you that Barcelona are the best team on the planet today, and most can reel off the star-names with ease.
However how did it get to this point? Barca are bestowed for their record in nurturing the local Catalonian talent and developing them into the heroes of the Nou Camp we've seen over the years.
But what of the outside imports? Here are 11 of the most influential transfers in FC Barcelona history.
11. Bernd Schuster
1 of 11Schuster joined Barca in 1980 after signing from FC Koln and spent eight years with the club.
The German was an integral part of the 1985 La Liga winning side, as well as helping Barca to three Copa Del Reys and the 1986 European Cup final where Terry Venebles' side were beaten on penalties by Steaua Bucuresti.
We went on to join Real Madrid and enjoyed further success both as a player and manager.
10. Johan Cruyff
2 of 11Cruyff, an all-time great, spent five years in Barcelona after joining from his native Ajax in 1973.
In his Barcelona tenure Cruyff helped the team to one La Liga title and one Copa Del Rey.
9. Rivaldo
3 of 11Rivaldo had been round the block so to speak before he joined Barcelona in 1997, it would be the longest he stayed at any one club.
Barca won the league and cup double in Rivaldo's first season with the Brazilian scoring 19 goals.
In 1999 Rivaldo won the Golden Boot and was named both European and World Footballer of the Year.
After five very successful years at the Nou Camp he left for Italy.
8. Ronaldinho
4 of 11Ronaldinho completed one of the most high-profile transfers in football history when he joined Barcelona form Paris Saint-German in 2003.
In what seems to be a running theme on this list, the Brazilian spent five years at the Nou Camp.
Ronaldinho was a double World Footballer of the Year and helped Barca to multiple La Liga titles and the 2005/06 European Cup.
7. Josep Samitier
5 of 11Samitier joined Barca in 1919 and would spend 13 years at the club.
The midfielder scored over 300 goals in just over 450 appearances and helped Barca to 12 Catalan Championships as well as the very first La Liga, he also won five Copa Del Reys.
The Spaniard was an integral part of one of the 'golden eras' at the club and would go on to help the club to another La Liga title as a manager.
6. Txiki Begiristain
6 of 11Begiristain, a Spanish winger, helped Barcelona to four Spanish League titles, a Spanish Cup and a European Cup in his seven year career in Catalonia.
Begiristain also represented Spain at full international level and won 22 caps and was Barca's Director of Football from 2003 to 2010.
5. Jose Mari Bakero
7 of 11Bakero joined Barca from Real Sociedad in 1988 and spent a very successful nine years at the club.
The midfielder helped the club to four Spanish Titles, two Spanish Cups, four Spanish Super Cups and a European titles.
4. Antoni Ramallets
8 of 11Ramallets spent 15 years with Barcelona, winning 17 major honors between 1947 and 1962.
The Spaniard joined from Valladolid and was five times voted best goalkeeper in Spain during his Barca career.
His medal collection includes six La Liga's and five Copa Del Reys. He also went on to find success as a manager.
3. Ronald Koeman
9 of 11The Dutchman only spent six seasons with Barcelona, however they were an incredibly successful six years.
Koeman flourished under fellow Dutchman Johan Cruyff, he won four La Ligas, a Copa Del Rey and a European Super Cup. As well as this, Koeman's goal in the 1992 European Cup final helped Barca to their first European Cup triumph.
2. Michael Laudrup
10 of 11The Dane joined Barcelona in 1989 and enjoyed five years of unadulterated success at the club.
The signing of Romario signaled the end of his Barcelona career.
At Barca Laudrup won four Spanish Titles, a Copa Del Rey, two Spanish Super Cups, a European Super Cup and a European Cup.
1. László Kubala
11 of 11The Hungarian spent decade at Barcelona from 1951-1961.
He scored an incredible 131 games in 186 appearances and helped Barca to four La Ligas and five Copa Del Reys and for me is the most influential signing in Barcelona history.
