Luis Figo has revealed he made the controversialmove from Barcelona to Real Madrid due to a lack of recognition from the board at the Catalan club.
Figo shocked the world of football in the summer of 2000 when he left Barcelona, where he was the star man and a fan icon, to join bitter rivals Real Madrid, who paid a then world record fee of £37m for the midfielder's services.
Figo's move intensified the already fierce rivalry between the two clubs, with the first match between the two following the transfer in October 2000 resulting in the relentless taunting of Figo from almost all 98,000 fans inside the Camp Nou. Fans shouted insults such as "Judas", while some took it further by throwing objects onto the pitch, with Figo the target.
Figo revealed to the official website ofLa Liga (viaSky Sports)the effect his exit from Barcelona had on him.
"My departure from Barca wore me out a lot. I had a lot of pressure," Figo confessed.
After having some doubts over whether to make the move or not, Figo felt the lack of backing he was receiving from the club left him with little doubt that moving on was the right decision.
"In the end, as is the case with all professions, if you do not feel recognised one hundred per cent, and I do not mean by the public, but rather by the people that manage the club, if you have other offers you think about changing. And that is what happened" he added.
Although Barcelona fans have never reallyforgiven him, Figo's decision to join Real Madrid proved a successful one on the pitch. In his five years in Spain's capital, he won seven major trophies, including two Liga titles and the Champions League.