The term ‘El Clasico’ holds great significance in the football community. It represents two legendary football clubs, Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.
Ronaldo barcelona and Samuel Eto'o Real Madrid - (Getty)
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When translated directly into English, the Spanish term refers to ‘The Classic’. This intense rivalry between the two major Spanish teams has existed for over a hundred years and is widely regarded as a traditional and significant event.
The game has an extraordinary number of viewers worldwide, exceeding 500 million while being the most popular in Spain. The pressure on players competing in an El Clasico match is immense due to the immense global fan bases of the two clubs.
In the midst of all the disorder created by this fierce competition, envision a scenario where a player switches teams, going from Real Madrid to Barcelona or vice versa. The player would have to endure a significant amount of criticism, and the fans who previously cheered him on would now be jeering him.
With that being said, here are five exceptional players who have played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid throughout the years.
Luis Enrique played for both Real Madrid from 1991 to 1996 and Barcelona from 1996 to 2004
Luis Enrique, ranked number 5 on our list, stands out as a player who has experienced both Barcelona and Real Madrid. Notably, he is the sole player on this list to make a direct transition from Real Madrid to FC Barcelona. Additionally, in 2014, Enrique took on the role of manager for the Catalan Giants.
He has not only played El Clasico as a member of both Spanish teams but also managed Barcelona. Back in 1995, Real Madrid was unsuccessful in renewing Enrique’s contract, which presented him with the opportunity to join Barcelona.
Enrique had 157 games for Real Madrid with 15 goals, but he experienced his greatest success during his time at Barcelona, where he played in 207 matches and scored 73 times.
When he was with Barcelona, he gave some of his most outstanding performances during El Clasico matches. This was because he felt undervalued by the executives at Real Madrid, who declined to renew his contract.
Javier Saviola played for Barcelona from 2001 to 2007 and then joined Real Madrid from 2007 to 2009
Javier Saviola, ranked at number 4 on our list of athletes who have played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid, made his move to Barcelona in 2001 after departing River Plate. This Argentinian striker had a total of 123 appearances for Barcelona, during which he managed to score 49 goals. However, he later lost his prominent position within the team and was loaned out to Monaco and Sevilla.
To everyone’s surprise, he later joined Los Blancos in 2007. After making a couple of appearances for Real Madrid, he subsequently transferred to the Portuguese team, Benfica.
The Argentine forward was renowned for his skillful ball control, speed, and knack for scoring goals from challenging angles. Upon joining FC Barcelona, he experienced significant pressure due to the recent signing of Zinedine Zidane by rival team Real Madrid. However, he effectively managed this pressure and accomplished an impressive feat of scoring 17 goals in his debut season at the club.
Saviola experienced a challenging period at Real Madrid because he did not receive enough opportunities to play in cup matches. As a result of Dutch player Ruud van Nistelrooy joining the team, Saviola only made occasional appearances in both La Liga and the Champions League.
Samuel Eto’o played for Real Madrid from 1997 to 2000 and Barcelona from 2004 to 2009
Samuel Eto’o secures the third spot on our list of football players who have showcased their skills at both Barcelona and Real Madrid. Eto’o, a highly acclaimed player from Africa, has achieved numerous honors throughout his career. Initially beginning at Real Madrid, he later transitioned to FC Barcelona.
His time at Mallorca for four years resulted in him being signed by the esteemed team in Catalonia. During his five-year stint at FC Barcelona, he played in 145 matches and netted an impressive total of 108 goals.
Eto’o will always be remembered as “The Indomitable Lion” in Barcelona’s history. He has become a cherished player among Barca fans, who fully embraced him despite knowing his origins. Although Eto’o received backlash for mocking Real Madrid during the celebration of Barca’s La Liga victory in 2005, he stayed with the team until 2009.
It is no surprise that Eto’o has participated in four World Cups and six Africa Cup of Nations tournaments. His exceptional ability to score from challenging positions in important matches established him as one of the most dangerous strikers of his era.
Ronaldo played for Barcelona from 1996 to 1997 and for Real Madrid from 2002 to 2007
Ronaldo Nazario, who ranks second on our list of players who have played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid, had a brief stint at FC Barcelona. During this time, he managed to achieve an impressive feat of scoring an astonishing 47 goals in just 49 games. Additionally, he made history by becoming the youngest player ever, at the age of 20, to win the esteemed FIFA World Player of the Year award.
Afterwards, he transferred to Inter Milan for a duration of five years before coming back to Spain to join Los Merengues. During his time at Real Madrid, the Brazilian player participated in 127 matches, scoring 83 goals, and attained the La Liga championship twice. However, he was unable to secure the Champions League trophy.
Ronaldo achieved victory in the World Cup during the year that he became a member of Madrid. It was at this club that he was able to play alongside his national teammate, Roberto Carlos. He played a vital role in Real Madrid’s star-studded team, known as the Galacticos, alongside notable players such as Luis Figo, David Beckham, Raul Gonzalez, and Zinedine Zidane.
The team also included other notable players such as Guti, Iker Casillas, Salgado, Makelele, and several others. This quick and skillful Brazilian player was not only incredibly strong when it came to scoring goals, but his impressive and unpredictable moves with the ball still remain unmatched, making him one of the best players of his time.
Luis Figo played for Barcelona from 1995 to 2000, and to Real Madrid from 2000 to 2005
Luis Figo, a Portuguese midfielder, occupies the top spot on our list of players who have played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid. Figo is renowned for making a highly controversial transfer from Barcelona to Real Madrid in 2000, for a record-breaking fee of £54 million.
This period is also recognized as the time when Los Blancos began constructing the Galacticos. He possessed exceptional talent and was adored at the Camp Nou, playing a total of 249 matches for the Catalan Giants. Following that, he made a controversial decision to join the Spanish Capital and participated in 239 matches over the course of five years.
In addition, he had the opportunity to play alongside some of the most talented players of his era while at Madrid. He had the privilege of sharing the field with renowned individuals such as Ronaldo (from Brazil), David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, Raul Gonzalez, Roberto Carlos, and numerous others. As a result, he achieved great success, winning the La Liga and Spanish Super Cup twice, as well as the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and Intercontinental Cup once each.
Barcelona fans have not forgotten the animosity towards Real Madrid, even after more than 15 years, when a supporter threw a pig’s head at him during his return to Camp Nou wearing the Los Blancos jersey for an El Clasico match.
