Most controversial transfers in Premier League history feat. Manchester United and Arsenal deals

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Carlos Tevez:

“Welcome to Manchester” the giant blue and white poster read in the middle of the city. On it a triumphant Carlos Tevez stood with his arms outstretched and in celebration of scoring yet another goal. The only problem was that Tevez was already well acquainted with the city after having spent two years at Manchester United where he was part of both Premier League and Champions League successes.

After having turned down a bumper new five-year deal from the club, the Argentinian opted instead to make the move across to the newly-rich Manchester City. He joined Mark Hughes’ men in the summer of 2009 on a lucrative contract that drew criticism from a number of quarters.

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United’s manager, Sir Alex Ferguson, certainly wasn’t impressed by the move, or the banner either.

“It’s City isn’t it? They are a small club with a small mentality,” Ferguson said in the press.

“All they can talk about is Manchester United. They can’t get away from it…It is a go at us, that’s the one thing it is. They think taking Carlos Tevez away from Manchester United is a triumph. It is poor stuff.”

However, it did undeniably represent a shift in power as the “noisy neighbours” were suddenly being taken seriously.

Sol Campbell:

Sol Campbell joined Tottenham’s youth team at the age of 14 where he slowly made his way up through the ranks until he made his professional debut in 1992. The powerful defender spent a few years being shifted from left-back to right-back before he eventually settled into the middle of defence.

He was appointed captained in 1997, but Spurs continued to struggle in the league as they went through a whole host of managers. Surprisingly, a League Cup success followed a year later, while Campbell was named in the PFA’s Team of the Year.

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However, disillusionment quickly followed as injuries and poor results stalled the centre back’s progression. He came off contract in 2001, when Spurs offered him a new deal that would have made him the highest paid player at the club. Campbell assured them he would sign it eventually and would not leave for free, but he went on to break this promise.

Several clubs were after him, yet he decided to sign with Spurs bitter rivals Arsenal that sparked fans into labelling him “Judas” amongst other things. Upon his first return to White Hart Lane the team bus was pelted with tomatoes when they arrived at the ground. While Campbell was also subjected to vile abuse from the stands every single time he faced the side afterwards.

Some 15 years on, his move from Tottenham to Arsenal remains one of the most controversial in Premier League history.

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