GONZALO HIGUAIN’S transfer from Napoli to fierce rivals Juventus will go down as one of the most controversial in history.
The Argentine’s record-breaking goals in Serie A had seen him become an icon in the city of Naples.
But he isn’t the first player to be embroiled in a bitter transfer.
SunSport looks back at the five most controversial transfers of all time.
John Robertson: Nottingham Forest to Derby, 1983
Robertson scored the only goal of the game as Forest retained the European Cup in 1980.
And his move to fierce rivals Derby three years hit the headlines because the rift it caused between legendary manager Brian Clough and his former assistant, Peter Taylor.
Taylor had retired before returning to manage the Rams six months later.
His move for Robertson turned ugly and it took an independent tribunal to agree a fee.
Clough revealed just how bitter this made his relationship with the man he had shared so much success: “We pass each other on the A52 going to work on most days of the week.
“But if his car broke down and I saw him thumbing a lift, I wouldn’t pick him up, I’d run him over.”
They never spoke again.
Mo Johnston: Nantes to Rangers, 1989
What’s the problem with moving from Nantes to Rangers?
Well, none — unless you had previously been a star for Celtic, like Johnston.
The Scot became only the second player since World War II to play for both Celtic and Rangers.
Johnston had been a Hoops fan his entire life and was the star behind their title victory in 1986.
However, Graeme Souness convinced him to move to Ibrox in 1989.
The move was met by sectarian violence between the two sets of supporters.
Celtic fans branded him “Judas”, while Rangers fans burned scarves in protest.
Even the Ibrox kitman refused arrange Johnston’s shirt.
Roberto Baggio: Fiorentina to Juventus, 1990
Juventus have previous when it comes to deeply upsetting rival fans.
The Divine Pontytail was a boyhood Fiorentina fan who had no plans to leave the club of his heart.
However, when Juventus offered a world-record £8million for darling of Italian football, it was impossible to resist.
The decision led to rioting on the streets of Florence with bricks, Molotov cocktails and iron bars thrown. Fiorentina president, Flavio Pontello, had to lock himself in the club headquarters for his own safety.
It was claimed Baggio refused to wear a Juventus scarf during his presentation.
His relationship with Bianconeri faithful worsened when he refused to take a penalty against his former club — and Luigi De Agostini missing from 12 yards.
And, if that wasn’t bad enough, upon being substituted, Baggio picked up a Fiorentina scarf which had been thrown onto the pitch and held onto it while sitting on the bench.
Juventus lost the match 1-0 and 300 fans turned up to the training ground demanding to know why refused to take the penalty.
Luis Figo: Barcelona to Real Madrid, 2000
Florentio Perez vowed to bring Barca’s star man to the Bernabeu if he won the election, and he did — for a world record £37million.
On Figo’s first return to the Nou Camp, he was visibly shocked at the jeers from the 98,000 fans and put his fingers to his ears.
Spanish TV channel, Cannel Plus had installed a sound meter, which was shattered — and the supporters produced more noise than any nightclub in town that night.
Armed police guarded the Real Madrid bus which was ambushed and had four or five windows smashed en route to the Nou Camp.
Fans held banners calling Figo a traitor and a mercenary.
He even refused to take corners to avoid close proximity with the supporters.
Two years later, he did take the corners, and the Catalan press likened each one to the Vietnam War due to shower of objects which rained down on him — they sometimes took him up to two minutes.
He cheekily backheeled some of the junk out of the way and was labelled as disrespectful by the then Barca president.
Most famously of all, a pig’s head was thrown at him by irate Barca fans in 2002.
Sol Campbell: Tottenham to Arsenal, 2001
The ultimate betrayal.
Campbell had established himself as one of the world’s leading defenders at White Hart Lane — but, in ten years, despite captaining the club to League Cup success in 1999, he never finished higher than seventh.
When his contract ran out, he became a target for almost every top club in Europe.
Arsene Wenger launched a cheeky bid to secure the central defender’s services and the deal was completed in secrecy.
When Arsenal called a press conference, many thought it was to announce the signing of Richard Wright, but members of the press were astonished when Campbell appeared.
Spurs fans never forgave him and gave him the most vehement abuse at every return to the Lane.
While some even burnt effigies.
Campbell had the last laugh, however — winning two Premier League titles and thee FA Cups with the Gunners.
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