9 players who moved between bitter rivals as ex-Chelsea star swaps Roma for Lazio

With Pedro becoming the first player in 40 years to join Roma from Lazio, Daily Star Sports looks at nine other players who boldly joined their club's most hated rivals

Club rivalries are entrenched within footballing culture, and it takes a brave person leave a team and proceed to cross the battle lines to join the enemy side.

The contributions, achievements, goals, and friendships can suddenly be forgotten overnight, if a player joins their previous side’s arch-rivals.

Former Chelsea and Barcelona star Pedro has become one of the latest players to make the bold move to his previous side’s fiercest rivals.

The World Cup winner moved to Lazio from Roma during the summer, prompting anger and fury from supporters of the Giallorossi.

His free transfer to Lazio meant he became the first cross-city transfer between the two clubs in 40 years.

Daily Star Sport looks at nine football players who crossed the footballing no man’s land and donned the shirts of their club’s most hated rivals...

Sol Campbell – Tottenham to Arsenal

One of the most famous and controversial transfers in Premier League history.

After initially saying that he would not join Arsenal, he was astoundingly unveiled as an Arsenal player at a press conference where only two members of the Press showed up.

To add extra sting for the Spurs fans, the defender also moved on a free transfer.

The 73-cap England international was derided with chants of “Judas” by Spurs fans for most of his career.

William Gallas – Chelsea to Arsenal

Which transfer do you think was the most controversial of all time? Comment below

William Gallas’ was pivotal to Chelsea’s two Premier League title successes in the 2004/05 and 2005/06 seasons.

However, it is not often you hear his name leave the mouths of Blues fans in a positive fashion, as he caused uproar when he moved to fierce rivals Arsenal for a free transfer.

It is even alleged the Frenchman tried to force the move by threatening to intentionally score own goals or get himself sent off, if he was picked by Chelsea.

Ashley Cole – Arsenal to Chelsea

While Gallas was causing a storm at Stamford Bridge, Ashley Cole was causing a tornado at the same time with The Gunners.

Before his controversial move, the legendary England left-back also said he would only consider a move abroad, so he did not have to play against Arsenal.

But his head was turned by Chelsea’s offer to more than double his wages, and he was soon exchanged for Gallas.

Carlos Tevez – Man Utd to Man City

This was a move which really stung Manchester United and Sir Alex Ferguson.

With Manchester City’s takeover still in its early stages, they performed the ultimate muscle flex by signing Carlos Tevez from The Red Devils.

After signing the Argentinean hitman for £25m, the Citizens even poked fun at their rivals by producing a “Welcome to Manchester” sign donned with a celebrating Carlos Tevez

Oscar Ruggeri – Boca Juniors to River Plate

"When I went from Boca to River, they set fire to my house with my parents inside," Ruggeri told MARCA.

That pretty much tells you all you need to know about Ruggeri’s sensational move from Boca to River Plate in 1984.

Matters were made even worse by his decision to move while Boca was fighting bankruptcy.

Jack Colback – Sunderland to Newcastle

While clubs often conclude every player exit announcement with a “We wish him the best with his future endeavours,” Sunderland were in no such mood to offer their best wishes when Jack Colback moved to Newcastle.

The midfielder was former manager Alan Pardew’s first signing for The Magpies in 18 months, and it certainly caused a stir.

When his exit was confirmed, Sunderland released an official statement saying: ““We gave him the opportunity to become a professional footballer and are therefore extremely disappointed in the events that have led to his departure from the club.”

Ouch!

Luis Figo – Barcelona to Real Madrid

You’ve got to really hate someone to throw a severed pig's head at them, but that is exactly what Barcelona fans did to Luis Figo.

Figo entrenched himself as one of the best players in the world for the Catalans.

But he went on to shock the footballing universe by joining their most hated rivals Real Madrid, in a record-breaking deal worth £37.5m.

He is often referred to as ‘The First Galactico’ as the likes of Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, and David Beckham soon followed the former Portugal captain to the Bernabeu.

Steven Defour - Standard Liege to Anderlecht

While Figo had a pig’s head launched in his general direction, former Belgium and Burnley midfielder Steven Defour was greeted by a three storey banner with his severed head.

After leaving Standard Liege to join their most hated rivals Anderlecht, the classy playmaker was greeted by an enormous banner depicting horror movie character Jason Vorhees holding Defour's severed head, accompanied with the message ‘Red or Dead’.

It’s probably fair to say the Liege fans did not take his transfer fee well.

Nick Barmby - Everton to Liverpool

At the time, the midfielder was offered the most lucrative contract in Everton’s history to stay at the club – he still went and joined Liverpool.

The Reds paid £8.1m for Barmby’s services, and he quickly came back to haunt his former club by opening the scoring in his first Merseyside Derby in the Red of Liverpool.

Uttering his name in a busy pub filled with Everton supporters would probably silence the whole place, as he remains a figure of hate for fans of The Toffees.