Figo signing for Inter
http://football.guardian.co.uk/breakingnews/feedstory/0,14546,-5189828,00.htmlFigo's Real love affair ends in a quickie divorce
By Simon Baskett
MADRID, Aug 4 (Reuters) - When Luis Figo controversially joined Real Madrid from Barcelona in July 2000, club president Florentino Perez said it was a marriage made in heaven.
Five years on the Portuguese midfielder's relationship Real has ended in a quickie divorce as he speeds off to Inter Milan to sign a two-year contract with the Serie A side.
Ever since being dropped in order to accommodate both David Beckham and Michael Owen in the starting lineup against Barcelona at the start of April, the relationship between the former World and European Player of the Year and his club had been distinctly sour.
Figo accused coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo of failing to warn him that he was going to be dropped and the two began a round of mutual recriminations about who stopped talking to whom first.
Rather than risk having a potential loose cannon within the camp for another season, Real opted for a clean break and decided to offload the winger to Inter a year before his contract was due to expire.
But the significance of Figo's departure for Italy far exceeds his mere importance as a player.
If it had not been for Figo, Perez might never have become Real president in the first place.
After all, it was the construction magnate's promise to make off with the most prized possession of arch-rivals Barcelona that was largely responsible for his victory in the 2000 club presidential elections.
WORLD RECORD
Perez kept his word and paid a then world record $56 million to buy Figo out of his contract with Barca, a move that provided a world-class addition to the Real squad and at the same time dealt the Catalans a blow from which they took almost five years to recover.
With his move to Real, Figo immediately became a symbol of a new generation of the sport's global superstars whose own interests superseded those of the club they play for - in short he was the first of Real's Galacticos.
Barca spent a combined total of $75 million on new players in an attempt to make up for the loss of Figo, but they were unable to find an adequate replacement for the Portuguese star who underwent an overnight transformation from hero to the vilest of villains in the eyes of their fans.
But Barca's loss was Real's gain, and although the winger never quite reproduced the sparkling form of his days in the blue and scarlet strip, he proved to be a gilt-edged asset to "Los Blancos".
Figo provided a hatful of assists and notched nine goals of his own during Real's procession to the league title in 2001 and although he was overshadowed by new arrival Zinedine Zidane in his second season he still managed to pick up a European Cup winners' medal with Real's victory over Bayer Leverkusen in Glasgow.
The following season he scored a career-high 10 league goals as Real pipped Real Sociedad to the Spanish title.
DROPPED
He was one of the few players who could hold his head up after the club's trophyless campaign in 2004, and up until he was dropped by Luxemburgo in the latter stages of last season he was one of Real's most consistent performers.
Internationally he appeared to be falling out of favour with Portugal's Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari after a more than a decade of service but the two managed to work together well enough to help their team to the final of Euro 2004 on home soil.
Portugal's most-capped player with more than a century of appearances, he retired after that tournament but had a change of heart this year and returned to the national team.
There is little doubt, though, that the 32-year-old's footballing powers are on the wane and although his effort can never be faulted, Luxemburgo quickly came to appreciate that the Figo was not suited to the more rapid counter-attacking game that he wanted his team to play.
In terms of close control, individual skill and versatility Figo is a more complete player than Beckham, but the England captain's passing skills and non-stop running fit more neatly into Luxemburgo's game plan.
Figo did relocate from the right wing to a position behind the two strikers for a short time, but was eventually forced out of the starting XI after Raul was moved into midfield in order to make room for the in-form Owen.
A melancholy figure at the best of times, Figo did not take the demotion well and accused the club of "hurting his pride" by the way in which he had been treated.
Luxemburgo was vindicated by the results, however, as Real won six and drew two of their remaining games while Figo was reduced to the role of a bit-part substitute.
On the pitch Figo is notoriously hot-tempered and argumentative, but it is his fierce competitive spirit and pride that make him the sort of player that cannot accept a supporting role.
The reversal of his decision to retire from international football and his move to Inter make it clear that he still retains a hunger for success.
With the World Cup just a year away he clearly wants to end his career on a high.
