Real Madrid: “We knew they were going to kill me or…”, Luis Figo discusses his return to Barça

For leaving Barça for Real Madrid in 2000, Luis Figo became the biggest traitor in Catalonia. On this subject, he revealed the inside story of his return to the Camp Nou.

The atmosphere between Real Madrid and Barça has never been friendly. Luis Figo has therefore paid the price. “The pressure has always kept me awake.

I knew perfectly well how the Camp Nou would receive me. It’s much easier when you expect a hostile environment than when you play at home and get booed.” “Going there, we knew they were going to kill me or call me a certain name,” he confessed. The Portuguese was Barça’s star at the time. For the fans, he was a symbol against Real Madrid’s dominance.

That said, his departure to their biggest rival was seen as an affront, an injustice, or even a betrayal by the fans. And so they didn’t hesitate to express their fury when Figo returned for his first Clasico against Barça.

Real Madrid: Luis Figo and the transfer of shame
He was notably the target of all sorts of objects as he was about to take a corner. Even though he was psychologically prepared for such a welcome, Luis Figo said he was disappointed and saddened, having worked his hardest at Barça.

“When I arrived at Barcelona, ​​I identified a lot with the club, its playing philosophy, with its supporters. I gave everything I had.

I felt like one of them. That’s probably why we give everything we have and don’t feel sufficiently recognized, which bothers us even more.

My years there were fantastic, I’ve always said that. I’m not going to deny my past,” he said before reflecting on his arrival at Real Madrid.

“In the first few weeks, I received a lot of support from people I already knew, like Fernando Hierro and Raúl. It was a drastic change.

I arrived and had no one to take me to training. I remember Pirri always picking me up from the hotel. I lived there for about three months,” he concluded.

Over the seasons he spent at Real Madrid, Luis Figo became a Blancos legend. An iconic number 10, he won the 2002 Champions League, among other titles.