Transferring from Barcelona to Real Madrid, or vice versa, is one of the rarest and most controversial transfers in football. The rivalry between the two clubs, known as El Clásico, represents not just a football match, but also a clash of cultures, identities, and histories. Despite this fierce rivalry, over 30 players have played for both teams at the senior level.
Some of these players became legends, others faded, and a few are remembered as some of the most infamous figures in the history of Spanish football.
Quick Snapshot
- Total players who played for both clubs: Over 30
- First crossover: Alfonso Albéniz (1902)
- Most controversial: Luis Figo (2000)
- Most recent: Marcos Alonso (2022)
- Scored in El Clásicos for both: Josep Samitier, Luis Enrique, Ronaldo Nazário, and Luis Figo
Below is a complete list of players who have played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid, along with the years they transferred and their achievements.
Complete List of Players Who Played for Both Barcelona and Real Madrid
Alfonso Albéniz
Transfer Year: Joined Real Madrid from Barcelona in 1902.
Albéniz was the first footballer known to have played for both FC Barcelona and Real Madrid, which was then referred to as Madrid FC. He left Barcelona at the beginning of the 20th century to join Madrid. As a pioneer of Spanish football, his transfer is remembered as the first connection between these two rival clubs.
José Quirante
Transfer Year: Joined Real Madrid from Barcelona in 1911.
Quirante played for Barcelona for ten years before joining Real Madrid. At a time when professionalism was not fully established, his move was less controversial than it would be perceived today.
Enrique Normand
Transfer Year: Joined Barcelona after playing for Madrid starting in 1902; later returned to Madrid.
Normand was part of Madrid’s early Copa del Rey-winning teams. He also had a brief stint at Barcelona, making him one of the first players to play for both clubs.
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Walter Rozitsky
Transfer: Joined Real Madrid from Barcelona in 1913.
Rozitsky, of German origin, played for Barcelona in the 1910s before moving to Real Madrid. He was among the first foreign players to appear for both clubs.
Ricardo Zamora
Transfer: Joined Real Madrid from Barcelona in 1930, via Espanyol (1922–1930).
Nicknamed “El Divino,” Zamora is regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers in football history. He gained prominence while playing for Barcelona and later had a lengthy career at Espanyol before joining Real Madrid, where he won several La Liga titles and became an icon. The Zamora Trophy, awarded each year to the best goalkeeper in La Liga, is named in his honor.
Josep Samitier
Transfer: Joined Real Madrid from Barcelona in 1932.
Samitier was Barcelona’s first great superstar, nicknamed ‘The Grasshopper Man.’ His move to Real Madrid in 1932 shocked Catalan fans. He won trophies with both sides and remains one of the few players to score in El Clásicos for both clubs.
Hilario (Juan Hilario Marrero)
Transfer: Joined Barcelona from Real Madrid in 1939.
Hilario was a midfielder from the Canary Islands who represented Spain at the 1934 World Cup. He played for Real Madrid before the Spanish Civil War and later joined Barcelona in 1939.
Justo Tejada
Transfer: Joined Real Madrid from Barcelona in 1961.
Tejada was a prolific Barcelona winger in the 1950s before switching to Madrid in 1961. He won LaLiga titles with both clubs, cementing his place in the rivalry’s history.
Evaristo de Macedo
Transfer: Joined Real Madrid from Barcelona in 1962.
The Brazilian striker scored more than 100 goals for Barcelona before joining Real Madrid in 1962, where he added LaLiga success. He remains one of the few South Americans celebrated by both clubs.
Fernand Goyvaerts
Transfer: Joined Real Madrid from Barcelona in 1964.
The Belgian forward moved from Club Brugge to Barcelona, then switched to Madrid in 1964. He won LaLiga in the 1964–65 season but left before Madrid’s European Cup triumph in 1966.
Chus Pereda
Transfer: Joined Barcelona from Real Madrid in 1961 (via Sevilla).
Pereda began at Madrid but became a Barcelona icon after joining in 1961. He was also a hero for Spain, scoring in the Euro 1964 final. He lifted trophies with both clubs.
Lucien Muller
Transfer: Joined Barcelona from Real Madrid in 1965.
The French midfielder enjoyed LaLiga success at Madrid before switching to Barcelona in 1965. He spent three seasons at Camp Nou, showing that even foreign players crossed the divide.
Amador Lorenzo
Transfer: Joined Barcelona from Real Madrid in 1980.
Amador, a goalkeeper, began his career with Madrid but later joined Barcelona in 1980. Though not a regular starter, he collected honours as part of both squads.
Bernd Schuster
Transfer: Joined Real Madrid from Barcelona in 1988.
The German midfield general starred for Barcelona in the 1980s but controversially moved to Madrid in 1988. He added LaLiga titles at Madrid and later played for Atlético, representing Spain’s three biggest clubs.
Luis Milla
Transfer: Joined Real Madrid from Barcelona in 1990.
Milla was a product of Barcelona’s youth system but joined Real Madrid in 1990, where he made nearly 200 appearances. He enjoyed success in LaLiga and the Copa del Rey with both clubs.
Nando (Fernando Muñoz)
Transfer: Joined Barcelona from Real Madrid in 1992.
Nando was a solid defender who switched from Madrid to Barcelona in 1992. He won LaLiga titles with both clubs and lifted the European Cup with Barcelona.
Miquel Soler
Transfer: Joined Real Madrid from Barcelona in 1992.
Soler was a versatile full-back who played for both Barcelona and Espanyol, as well as Real and Atlético Madrid. His 1992 move to Madrid came after a stint at Camp Nou.
Julen Lopetegui
Transfer: Joined Barcelona from Real Madrid in 1994.
Lopetegui, a goalkeeper, had limited appearances for both sides. He left Madrid in 1991 and later joined Barcelona in 1994 as a backup. He later managed Spain and Real Madrid.
Gheorghe Hagi
Transfer: Joined Barcelona from Real Madrid in 1994.
The Romanian superstar played for Madrid from 1990 to 1992, then joined Barcelona in 1994 after a spell with Brescia. Known for his thunderous left foot, he remains one of Romania’s greatest players.
Robert Prosinečki
Transfer: Joined Barcelona from Real Madrid in 1995.
The Croatian playmaker left Madrid in 1995 and signed for Barcelona directly. Injuries limited his impact, but he remains one of the few players to move directly across the rivalry.
Albert Celades
Transfer: Joined Real Madrid from Barcelona in 2000.
Celades came through Barcelona’s academy but joined Madrid in 2000 after a spell at Celta Vigo. He won LaLiga and the Champions League with Madrid, adding to domestic honours at Barcelona.
Alfonso Pérez
Transfer: Joined Barcelona from Real Madrid in 2000 (loan).
Alfonso, a Real Madrid youth graduate, made his name at Betis before later joining Barcelona on loan in 2000. Though his time at Barça was brief, he adds to the list of crossover players.
Dani García
Transfer: Joined Barcelona from Real Madrid in 1999.
Dani García began in Madrid but later joined Barcelona at the end of the 1990s. He had more opportunities at Barça, showing the rivalry could still see player movement.
Javier Saviola
Transfer: Joined Real Madrid from Barcelona in 2007.
The Argentine striker played for Barcelona from 2001 to 2007 before moving to Madrid on a free transfer. While he struggled for playing time, he did win LaLiga with Madrid.
Samuel Eto’o
Transfer: Joined Barcelona from Real Madrid in 2004 (via Mallorca).
Eto’o was on Madrid’s books but barely featured. After excelling at Mallorca, he joined Barcelona in 2004 and became one of the club’s greatest strikers, winning multiple LaLiga and Champions League titles.
Luis Enrique
Transfer: Joined Barcelona from Real Madrid in 1996.
Luis Enrique spent five years at Madrid before switching to Barcelona in 1996. He became captain at Camp Nou and scored in El Clásicos for both clubs. He later managed Barcelona to the Champions League title.
Michael Laudrup
Transfer: Joined Real Madrid from Barcelona in 1994.
Laudrup was the creative leader of Barcelona’s Dream Team, winning four straight LaLiga titles. In 1994, he moved to Madrid and won LaLiga again, uniquely playing in 5–0 Clásicos for both sides.
Ronaldo Nazário
Transfer: Joined Real Madrid from Barcelona in 2002 (via Inter Milan).
Ronaldo had one legendary season at Barcelona in 1996–97, scoring 47 goals, before later joining Madrid as part of the Galácticos in 2002. He won LaLiga with Madrid and scored in Clásicos for both clubs.
Luis Figo
Transfer: Joined Real Madrid from Barcelona in 2000.
Figo’s move in 2000 remains the most controversial transfer in football history. After five years at Barcelona, he switched to Madrid for a world-record fee. He won LaLiga and the Champions League with Madrid, but Barça fans never forgave him.
Marcos Alonso
Transfer: Joined Barcelona from Real Madrid in 2022.
Alonso debuted for Real Madrid in 2010 but spent most of his career abroad before joining Barcelona in 2022. He won LaLiga with Barça in 2023, becoming the most recent crossover.
Players Who Scored in El Clásicos Barcelona and Real Madrid
Only four players in history have scored goals in El Clásicos for both Barcelona and Real Madrid:
1. Josep Samitier – Barcelona’s first icon, who later scored for Madrid in the 1930s.
2. Luis Enrique – Scored against Madrid while at Barcelona after previously netting in Clásicos as a Madrid player.
3. Ronaldo Nazário – Found the net for Barcelona in 1996–97 and later scored for Madrid as part of the Galácticos.
4. Luis Figo – Scored in Clásicos as a Barcelona player in the 1990s and again for Madrid after his 2000 transfer.
Players Who Won Titles at Barcelona and Real Madrid
A number of players managed to lift trophies with both Barcelona and Real Madrid:
1. Michael Laudrup – Won four LaLiga titles with Barcelona before winning another with Madrid in 1995.
2. Luis Enrique – Claimed LaLiga and Copa del Rey with Madrid, and later trophies, including domestic doubles with Barcelona.
3. Luis Figo – Won LaLiga and Copa del Rey with Barcelona, and then added more LaLiga titles and the Champions League with Madrid.
4. Ronaldo Nazário – Lifted the Cup Winners’ Cup with Barcelona and went on to win two LaLiga titles at Madrid.
5. Bernd Schuster – Won LaLiga with Barcelona in the 1980s and again with Madrid after his switch.
6. Evaristo de Macedo – Claimed LaLiga titles with both Barcelona and Madrid in the 1960s.
7. Justo Tejada – Secured LaLiga honours with both clubs during his career in the early 1960s.
8. Nando – Won LaLiga with both clubs and the European Cup with Barcelona.
From Alfonso Albéniz in 1902 to Marcos Alonso in 2022, some players have played for both Barcelona and Real Madrid. Some, like Luis Figo, are known for their controversies, while others, like Ronaldo Nazário and Michael Laudrup, are admired for their great skills with both teams. This list shows how unique and interesting it is when players switch sides in El Clásico, making sure their names are remembered in discussions about this famous rivalry in Spain.
