Ranking Real Madrid’s five best moments in El Clasico history

4. Luis Figo’s Camp Nou visit

Who doesn’t remember Luis Figo? Florentino Perez’s trump card in the presidential elections of Real Madrid in the year 2000. His transfer to Madrid from the Catalan side wasn’t a regular deal and as obvious was loathed by their fans. Perez had struck a deal with Figo’s manager Jose Veiga that can only be described as irregular in all senses.

The deal was, upon a win for Perez, Luis Figo had to play for Los Blancos and they would pay his release clause. And if he loses, Figo would get a million euros. But, if Figo denied playing for Madrid then he had to buy out his exit for 30 million euros.

Perez impressed the board saying that a Figo deal was already on his cards that led to his victory over Lorenzo Sanz, who for the record was the favorite to win given his two UCL titles in 1998 and 2000 as president. Figo couldn’t afford to pay back and decided to join Madrid for 60 million euros triggering his release clause that made him the most expensive player at that time.

When Figo went to Barcelona for the 2002 El Clasico in Real Madrid colors, the fans were furious. When he went to take a corner kick, they threw whiskey bottles, food items, and worst of all, even a pig’s head. The play had to be stopped as the players waited for the crowd to settle down and then played a 0-0 draw.