Figo reveals the details on his controversial departure from Barcelona, and from Real Madrid

Spoke of reasons why he left both clubs

Posted Sunday, April 14, 2019 by Marca.com

Luis Figo revealed all about his departure from Barcelona but also about the peculiar circumstances under which he left Real Madrid.

The Portuguese star left the Catalan club in controversial fashion, joining their sworn enemies for a 62-million-euro fee in the year 2000.

Despite almost 20 years having passed, the move is still the subject of heated debates in both Barcelona and Madrid.

"I had five marvelous year at Barcelona, on the personal and sporting side.

"But during that time, in the summer of 2000, the candidate who was going to win the elections was Gaspart and I did not trust him even in the slightest," he told Universo Valdano.

Figo revealed how his agent had made an agreement with Florentino Perez before his election.

"Things were getting more serious and we reached a point where my agent had already reached an agreement with one of the candidates (Florentino Perez) of Real Madrid.

"My representative signed that if I did not go to Madrid I would pay for Bernabeu season tickets for a whole year, but I had not signed anything," he told.

"It was his responsibility, because I had nothing signed, only in words. At Barcelona they told me, bring the money and you can go. I did not know Florentino," Figo said.

After Perez won the elections, Figo was eventually convinced to make the forbidden move.

"I was on holiday in Sardinia and Florentino won the elections. My agent and my lawyer flew to Sardinia to convince me.

"After, we returned to Lisbon and there I met with Florentino for hours, and so then I called my wife to tell her I had decided to sign for Madrid," he said.

However, his start to life in Madrid was not easy.

"I arrived in a difficult year, with new ideas, a new project after having won the Champions League.

"We were fortunate to win LaLiga," he said.

"I met a sensational group who helped in my integration: Raul, Hierro..."

He also mentioned why he eventually decided to leave Madrid.

"I decided to go to Inter, even though I had one more year on my contract at Madrid.

"I decided to leave because I was not playing regularly and, when I don't feel useful, it killse.

"I knew the reasons why I wasn't playing," he stated.