Luis Figo - Elegance, deification & deceit.
A look into one of football's most controversial players ever and the politics behind his infamous transfer to Real Madrid.
A look into one of football's most controversial players ever and the politics behind his infamous transfer to Real Madrid.
Figo was a breath-taking player. Fast, with exceptional close control on the ball. His feints & bursts would leave viewers in a gasp & defenders in his wake. He had a killer cross in him and could pick out any pass with ease and grace. A complete attacker, if there ever was one.
Figo debuted for Sporting at the age of 17. As a highly touted prospect, Figo starred in the U-16 Euros and the U-20 FIFA World Cup and won both. The year he won the U-20 World Cup, at just 19 years of age, he earned his first cap for the Portuguese national team.
In the 94-95 season, Figo finally won a trophy with Sporting.
Meanwhile in 🇪🇸, one of the world's best players at the time, Michael Laudrup, played his first season for Real Madrid. He left arch-rivals Barcelona for Real Madrid after falling out with the legendary Johann Cruyff.
Meanwhile in 🇪🇸, one of the world's best players at the time, Michael Laudrup, played his first season for Real Madrid. He left arch-rivals Barcelona for Real Madrid after falling out with the legendary Johann Cruyff.
Back in Portugal, after winning the "Taça", Figo was now ready for an improved contract. Sporting however had other plans. They secretly negotiated with Italian giants, Juventus for a sale. Figo caught wind of what was going on and felt that Sporting had acted clandestinely.
Figo tried to take matters into his own hands and signed a contract with Parma, another Italian club who competed with Juventus in the league.
What resulted was a massive dispute. Amidst the chaos, all clubs in Italy were banned from signing Figo for a period of 2 years.
What resulted was a massive dispute. Amidst the chaos, all clubs in Italy were banned from signing Figo for a period of 2 years.
This would set precedent for a far more controversial move in the future. But for now, Cruyff sensed an opportunity to replace Laudrup. Barcelona capitalised on the breakdown of trust between Sporting and Figo, signing him for a little over £2m in the 1995 summer transfer window.
At Barca, Figo slowly morphed into a leader. A supporter of the Catalan struggle, he endeared himself to the fans by not only performing spectacularly on the pitch but also saying all the right things. He was their icon, Catalonia's icon, much like Messi is now, but very vocal.
In the capital, Real Madrid won 2 UCLs in 3 seasons (1997/1998 & 1999/2000) under the presidency of Lorenzo Sanz. With the elections for club president coming up, Sanz was expected to win it with ease after riding high on Real Madrid's success in Europe.
Florentino Perez, a presidential candidate at the time approached Figo’s agent Viega, and offered him an outlandish fee for signing a pre-contract agreement stating Figo would sign for Real Madrid if Perez won the election.
The agreement included a clause which stipulated that IF Perez did win the election & Figo refuse to sign for Real Madrid, he would have to compensate Madrid with a fee in the excess of £19m. Figo was so sure that Perez would not win the election that he signed the agreement.
Perez promised Real Madrid socios that if he were to be elected, he would sign Luis Figo from Barcelona. Incumbent president Lorenzo Sanz laughed off Perez’s promises. Figo himself denied that he’d ever leave Barcelona, refuting Perez's claims of potentially signing him.
Perez also promised that he’d let all members of the club watch games at the Bernabeu for free if he somehow failed to land Figo upon winning the election. Buoyed by these promises, the support for Perez swelled up and he ended up winning presidency.
Figo did not want to move. But Barcelona’s president Gaspart was unwilling to pay the £19m fee that would potentially allow Figo to remain at Barcelona because it would’ve also meant that Barcelona were paying for Real Madrid members to watch games at the Bernabeu for free.
Perez deposited Figo’s buyout clause for what was a world record fee at the time and signed Barcelona’s icon. This shattered Barcelona. Fans were beyond distraught. They were betrayed by their idol. It was inconceivable.
A few months later Figo would win the Ballon d’or donning the pristine white of Real Madrid, for what he had largely achieved in Barcelona’s Blaugrana just the season before. Another excruciating stab at Barcelona’s pride that would leave Cules’ hearts in tatters
On his return to the Camp Nou, now playing for Real Madrid, Figo was met with throngs of missiles & projectiles which was capped off by a severed pig’s head flung in his direction. A torrent of abuse was hurled towards him. But he persevered and played the whole 90 minutes.
It was more of the same whenever Figo returned to the Camp Nou. Missiles, projectiles & abuse. Figo’s legacy at Barcelona was obliterated. All memories wiped out.
Figo did well at Real Madrid. He won everything he had previously won at Barcelona but with the addition of a UCL title. He left Real Madrid as one of their best foreign players ever.
Figo will forever be remembered as one of football’s finest ever. The football story cannot be told without Luis Figo whether you talk about his grace on the pitch, the controversies off of it, Barcelona’s chagrin at losing him or Real Madrid’s indulgence under Florentino Perez.
Picture credits: Getty.
