Five players who played for Atletico Madrid and Barcelona
Five players who played for Atletico Madrid and Barcelona As Atletico Madrid and Barcelona prepare to do battle in the Champions League tonight, we’ve remembered five top players who wore the colours of both clubs. Sergi Barjuán Barjuan broke into the Barcelona side during the club’s ‘Dream Team’ era under Johan Cruyff. The academy product was promoted to the first team during the 1993/94 campaign and remained a fixture for the Catalans for almost a decade.
His first season ended in La Liga title success and a European Cup final appearance, with Barjuan collecting nine trophies with Barcelona, including three league titles, two Copa del Rey triumphs, and the 1996 UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup. In total, the Spaniard made 382 appearances across nine seasons before moving to Atletico Madrid in 2002. Having fallen out of favour under Louis van Gaal, Barajuan moved to the capital and made 98 appearances for the Rojiblancos before retirement.
David Villa Spain’s record scorer had strong spells at both clubs, winning La Liga titles with both Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. Villa signed for Barcelona from Valencia in a €40m deal in 2011 and formed part of a formidable frontline under Pep Guardiola. He scored 23 goals in his debut season, including a stunning effort in the Champions League final win against Manchester United, as Barcelona ended the campaign as Spanish and European champions.
Injuries impacted Villa over the next two seasons, and he was allowed to leave for Atletico Madrid, after scoring 48 goals in 119 games for the Catalans. The cut-price €5m fee proved to be a bargain, as Villa scored 13 league goals to inspire Atleti to the title. It was the club’s first La Liga title success in 18 years.
Villa moved on after only one season to sign for MLS outfit New York City. Luis Suarez In a transfer that echoed Villa’s move just seven seasons earlier. Suarez had been a sensation at Barcelona, where he scored 198 goals in 283 games after arriving from Liverpool in a £75m deal.
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