RANK & FILE
BREAKING THE BANK A look at some landmark soccer transfers after Neymar’s record-setting move from Barcelona to Paris SaintGermain on Thursday.
Johan Cruyff Ajax to Barcelona in 1973 (then $2 million) The three-time Ballon d’Or winner made headlines when he joined the Catalan club to be reunited with coach Rinus Michels, in an era when international transfers were rare. The move paid off as Barcelona went on to win the Spanish title for the first time since 1960 that season, and the “Total Football” promoted by Michels and Cruyff became the club’s style of play. Diego Maradona Barcelona to Napoli in 1984 (then $7.6 million) Napoli’s rise to prominence coincided with the arrival of Argentina genius Diego Maradona after club president Corrado Ferlaino broke the world transfer record. Maradona helped the club win two Serie A titles in three years and the UEFA Cup. But his stint in Italy had a bitter ending as Maradona left the club after testing positive for cocaine. Roberto Baggio Fiorentina to Juventus in 1990 (then $13.6 million) Juventus and Fiorentina fans were already bitter rivals before Baggio’s departure added fuel to the flames. Baggio had been a fan favorite in Florence and a large section of the club’s hard-core fans took to the streets to voice their anger when it appeared certain their idol was heading to Turin. Alan Shearer Blackburn to Newcastle in 1996 (then $23 million) Shearer was expected to join Manchester United following the 1996 European Championship, but Newcastle manager Kevin Keegan managed to convince the striker to sign for his hometown club after a last-minute meeting. Ronaldo Barcelona to Inter Milan in 1997 (then $30 million) After just one year at Barcelona, the Brazil great quickly adapted to the Italian style of play. His Inter years are among the best of his career, although his knee problems started in Italy and he only managed to win the UEFA Cup with the Nerazzurri. Luis Figo Barcelona to Real Madrid in 2000 (then $56 million) A fan favorite after five years in Barcelona, Figo was viewed as a traitor and faced a hostile reception every time he went back to play in Catalonia. In 2002, as he attempted to take a corner, he was bombarded with various projectiles including a pig’s head. Zinedine Zidane Juventus to Real Madrid in 2001 (then $65 million) Madrid got what it paid for with Zidane, an outstanding player in a team of “galacticos.” He produced magnificent football, scoring arguably the best goal of his career — an exquisite volley — in Madrid’s 2-1 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the 2002 Champions League final. Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United to Real Madrid in 2009 (then $130 million) A few weeks after signing Kaka for $86 million, Madrid pulverized the previous transfer record when it hired Cristiano Ronaldo. Since then, the Portugal winger has proved his status as one of soccer’s alltime greats, winning the Champions League three times and averaging more than a goal a game for Madrid. Gareth Bale Tottenham to Real Madrid in 2013 (then $132 million) Real Madrid’s second “galacticos” era peaked with the signing of Bale, who joined the current galaxy of stars — Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric and Karim Benzema. Paul Pogba Juventus to Manchester United in 2016 (then $116 million) Pogba left United on a free transfer in 2012 after his contract expired, but the club had to dig deep to bring him back after he won four Italian titles in four years at Juventus. Neymar Barcelona to Paris SaintGermain ($262 million) The Brazil forward’s move has shattered the transfer record and given PSG real hope of achieving its long-stated goal of winning the Champions League. After scoring 105 goals in four seasons with Barcelona, Neymar’s five-year contract with PSG should see him emerge from Lionel Messi’s shadow.