5 Most Controversial Football Transfers Ever

2. Roberto Baggio (Fiorentina To Juventus)

Fiorentina fans were left seething at the events that ended in Roberto Baggio's at the time world record transfer to arch rivals Juventus back in 1990. To get to the bottom of the hatred behind this move, we have to go back to the final day of the Serie A season in 1982. Fiorentina drew 0-0 with Cagliari, after having a goal disallowed, meaning that if Juventus could better that result the title would be theirs. Thanks to a penalty dispatched by Liam Brady, the Turin giants took the title with minutes to spare, leaving the Viola feeling robbed of the trophy by the Old Lady. Then, in the 1989/1990 season the two teams were once again at loggerheads, this time in the two-legged Uefa Cup final. Before the first game, it was clear that star man Roberto Baggio was to leave the Viola, and it was widely rumoured that Juventus would be his destination, much to Fiorentina's chagrin. The first leg of the tie was won by Juventus in a 3-1 result that included a dubious goal that didn't help matters. This was followed by a 0-0 in the return leg, and Viola fans were hurt even further when days after the second leg, Baggio completed his move to the Bianconeri. The Viola fans saw this as a personal insult and riots across Florence ensued. The drama was still not over a year later however, after Baggio claimed afterwards that he was forced into the move, and upon returning with his new club, refused to take a penalty against Fiorentina, an act that saw him substituted. Whilst walking off the pitch, a Fiorentina scarf was hurled at him, and as he picked it up he kissed it, providing a touching end to one of the most volatile transfers of all time.