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Soccer Players Who Have Joined Their Rivals: Part Two

We continue our look at soccer figures that have jumped ship and joined their rivals in the last few years.

For part one of the list, you can click here.

Editor’s Note: be sure to check out all of our articles, and read more about English Premier League (EPL, BPL) fantasy analysis and European football news.

Samir Nasri (Arsenal to Man City)

Samir Nasri had his best ever season at Arsenal in the 2010/2011 season. Scoring goals, making assists and looking like a truly world class player, he was a key factor why a few were predicting Arsenal could go quite far in potentially winning four trophies that season.

However, Nasri faded away in 2011 and after a Carling Cup final loss to Birmingham in February, Arsenal's whole season collapsed as they not only got knocked out of the FA Cup and Champions League, but they also lost their grip at the top of the table, eventually finishing fourth in the Premier League.

It turned out to be a season to forget and Nasri - clearly frustrated - decided to leave the following summer. What was truly frustrating for Arsenal fans was the fact that Cesc Fabregas had already left that summer and Nasri was earmarked to take his role, only for the Frenchman to leave as well to Manchester City.

 

Paul Ince (Man United to Liverpool)

Like Fabregas, Paul Ince - now an unemployed manager - didn't join Liverpool directly from Manchester United.

The former Blackburn manager had won a string of trophies at Old Trafford including back to back league titles before a move to Inter Milan beckoned. After two years in Italy, Ince made a shocking return to England by joining his previous side's arch rivals Liverpool in 1997.

He even scored a last minute equalizer against Manchester United in a 2-2 draw in front of the Liverpool fans. However, it was Sir Alex Ferguson's team who had the last laugh as they went on to win the treble that same year in 1999.

 

Michael Owen (Liverpool to Man United)

Michael Owen was brought through the Liverpool academy and quickly became one of the most devastating strikers in world football with his blistering pace and knack for scoring. However, despite winning a number of trophies with his boyhood team, he was never able to win the Premier League.

After leaving Liverpool in 2004 for Real Madrid, Liverpool ended up winning the Champions League the very next season while Owen suffered a debut season to forget in Spain. Owen eventually joined Newcastle in 2005 before becoming a free agent in the summer of 2009.

Linked with a number of clubs, he shockingly joined Manchester United where he ended up winning his first league title. Having the last laugh, he said, "As they say, if you can't beat them, join them."

 

Fernando Torres (Liverpool to Chelsea)

Torres' career took a turn for the worse when he made a record breaking £50 million move to Chelsea from rivals, Liverpool in 2011. He was one of the most feared strikers in world football at the time but suffered a knee injury the previous season which affected him more than people thought.

Liverpool decided to take the money which turned out to be the right call as despite fans' initial anger at Torres, he was never the same player. In his debut season, he only scored once in 18 games while in the whole span of his Chelsea career, he only scored 45 goals in 172 games - compare that to 81 goals in 142 games for Liverpool.

It wasn't all that bad for Torres though as he did end up winning more trophies than Liverpool, including an FA Cup, Champions League, and a Europa League where he scored in the final.

 

Sol Campbell (Tottenham to Arsenal)

You've seen majority of these players leaving Arsenal but the Gunners pulled off a coup of their own with a rival player back in 2001.

Sol Campbell was captain of Tottenham, Arsenal's archrivals, and when his contract ran out, many suspected that he would go abroad with clubs like Inter Milan interested in the Englishman.

However, Campbell decided to shock the world and join Arsenal, the team he grew up hating and even stating a month before that he would never join them while burning his bridges with Tottenham fans instantly.

What made it even worse for the fans was the fact that Arsenal acquired him for absolutely nothing considering he was a free signing and in that very same season, he helped Arsenal win the league and FA Cup.

Spurs fans still call him a "Judas" today but he's cemented himself as a true Arsenal legend.

 

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