El Clasico: Barcelona vs Real Madrid: Michael Owen, Jonathan Woodgate, Kaka and more among top ten worst signings Real Madrid have ever made
Los Blancos are renowned for their lavish spending, breaking transfer record five times — but they don't always get it right
REAL MADRID are renowned for their lavish spending.
The Spanish have broken the world record more than any other club — and even broke their own record for four consecutive transfers in the space of 13 years.
Under president Florentino Perez, they built a team of ‘Galacticos’ which won the Champions League three times in five years.
But it hasn’t all been successful on the transfer front — with so many buys, there were bound to be some turkeys along the way.
Here are Real Madrid’s top ten worst signings.
10 Nicolas Anelka — 1999-00
It wasn’t that the Frenchman was horrendous, it was just his output vs reputation.
Anelka tore up the Premier League with Arsenal and moved to the Bernabeu for £23million, having cost the Gunners just £500,000.
He started the victorious 2000 Champions League final but left for Paris Saint-Germain after just one season.
Watch ALL the goals from the Premier League before anyone else for FREE plus all the latest news, fixtures and results and live match commentary all on the go with the new Sun Football App –
9 Michael Owen — 2004-05
How do you squeeze in ahead of a strikeforce consisting of Raul and Ronaldo?
The Englishman wasn’t a disaster in Madrid as he scored 16 goals in 45 appearances — including one in a Clasico victory over Barcelona.
Ultimately, boss Vanderlei Luxemburgo brought in fellow countrymen Robinho and Julio Baptista as Owen was just left with a more reason to ponder the question: ‘Who’s the best striker you ever played with?’
8 Emerson — 2006-07
Fabio Capello brought the Brazilian with him from Roma to Juventus before repeating the trick when the Bianconeri were relegated for matchfixing.
Although, on this occasions, with much less success.
The pair won La Liga in their solitary season together at the Bernabeu, but Emerson moved to AC Milan in the summer.
7 Royston Drenthe — 2007-2012
Real Madrid were entering a transitional period of signing less expensive, younger players and Drenthe was making waves at Feyenoord and was being talked about a future star.
However, from the moment he threatened to take his former club to court to force through a move, it was clear he had a bad attitude.
Drenthe was booed by his own fans against Deportivo and he asked to excluded from the next three games.
After two loan spells, he left to join Alania Vladikavkaz in Russia.
6 Thomas Gravesen — 2005-06
The Dane was a bizarre signing brought in by Juan Roman Lopez Caro.
He was most famous for a vicious training ground bust-up with team-mate, Robinho.
After 18 months at the Bernabeu, he left to join Celtic.
5 Walter Samuel — 2004-05
When the Argentine looks back at his career, it will be a wonder how he didn’t succeed at the Bernabeu.
Nicknamed ‘The Wall’, he was sensational at Roma and Inter Milan — winning the league with both and the Champions League with the latter.
Samuel left for the San Siro after just one season as Real Madrid brought in Sergio Ramos.
Related Articles
4 Javier Saviola — 2007-09
If you’re going to cross the great Barcelona-Real Madrid divide, you have to be confident you will succeed.
Saviola failed to fulfil his potential at the Nou Camp and later attempted to resurrect his career at the Bernabeu.
However, he made minimal impact and only succeeded in becoming an enemy among both sets of fans.
3 Antonio Cassano — 2006-08
A brilliant character who would win any award based on genuine personality.
Cassano was once the most-expensive teenager in football, but a shocking attitude cost him the career his talent deserved.
Capello — who had bought him at Roma — took him to the Bernabeu where he arrived overweight and barely featured.
2 Kaka 2009-13
Was hailed a loyal hero by Milan fans when he turned down a £107m — only to join Real Madrid for a world-record £56m five months later.
Kaka had won the Ballon d’Or and Fifa World Player of the Year awards just two years before joining.
Made just 120 appearances in all competitions in four years, but did become the first sportsman to reach ten million Twitter followers.
1 Jonathan Woodgate 2004-07
Where do we start?
I guess from his debut — where he scored an own goal and was sent off. And he only made his first appearance 13 months after signing.
Woodgate gradually improved, but was never going to get over his horror start.
Topped a poll for the worst signing of the 21st Century.
