We were all disappointed, but the real question was why Figo left. It's just not normal for a Barcelona player to join Real Madrid' Jari Litmanen on Luis Figo's explosive Nou Camp exit

"FourFourTwo ranked the 2000 deal at no.1 in a ranking of the most shocking transfers of all time, with the deal having more narrative strands than a season of The Wire. In the summer of 2000, Figo had established himself as one of the best players on the planet. He had won two La Liga titles with Barca, and buoyed by an excellent showing at Euro 2000, he was on his way to winning the Ballon d'Or later that year."

"In the summer of 2000, Figo had established himself as one of the best players on the planet. He had won two La Liga titles with Barca, and buoyed by an excellent showing at Euro 2000, he was on his way to winning the Ballon d'Or later that year. When Madrid met the buyout clause in Figo's contract and completed a 37million world record deal, it ushered in Florentino Perez's Galactico era."

High-profile transfers between rival clubs provoke intense fan anger and lasting controversy. Luis Figo left Barcelona for Real Madrid in summer 2000 after Madrid triggered his buyout clause with a 37 million world-record fee. Figo had won two La Liga titles with Barcelona and produced an excellent Euro 2000 performance while poised to win the Ballon d'Or. The move launched Florentino Perez's Galactico era and made Figo the symbolic centrepiece of a newly reignited rivalry rooted in sporting, historical and political tensions. Barcelona supporters reacted with posters burned and objects thrown at Figo during matches.

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