Have you ever wondered which football players have had the privilege of playing for two of the biggest clubs in Europe, Manchester United and Real Madrid? The answer is quite a few, and some of them have even reached legendary status at both clubs. In this article, we will take a look at some of the players who have donned the jerseys of both Manchester United and Real Madrid.
Cristiano Ronaldo
It’s impossible to talk about players who have played for both Manchester United and Real Madrid without mentioning Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese forward is considered one of the greatest footballers of all time and has won numerous awards during his career. Ronaldo joined Manchester United in 2003 from Sporting Lisbon and quickly established himself as one of the best players in the world. He won three Premier League titles, one Champions League trophy, and a Ballon d’Or award during his six-year spell at Old Trafford.
In 2009, he moved to Real Madrid for a then-world record fee of £80 million. At Real Madrid, he became their all-time leading goalscorer with 450 goals in just 438 appearances. He also won four Champions League trophies and four Ballon d’Or awards during his nine-year stay at the Santiago Bernabeu.
David Beckham
David Beckham is another player who has played for both Manchester United and Real Madrid. The English midfielder was a product of Manchester United’s youth academy and made his first-team debut in 1992.
During his time at Old Trafford, he won six Premier League titles, two FA Cup trophies, and a Champions League trophy. In 2003, he moved to Real Madrid for a fee of £24.5 million. Beckham spent four years at the Bernabeu and won La Liga title in his final season before moving to LA Galaxy in MLS.
Michael Owen
Michael Owen is a retired English striker who played for both Manchester United and Real Madrid during his career. He started his career at Liverpool before moving to Real Madrid in 2004.
However, he struggled to establish himself at the Bernabeu and moved to Newcastle United after just one season. In 2009, he signed for Manchester United on a free transfer and scored some crucial goals in his first season, including a winner against Manchester City in the Manchester derby.
Angel Di Maria
Angel Di Maria is an Argentine midfielder who played for both Manchester United and Real Madrid. He joined Real Madrid from Benfica in 2010 and won La Liga title and Champions League trophy during his four-year stay at the Bernabeu. In 2014, he moved to Manchester United for a then-British record fee of £59.7 million but struggled to adapt to the Premier League and left after just one season.
Conclusion
These are just a few of the players who have played for both Manchester United and Real Madrid. There are many others, such as Gabriel Heinze, Javier Hernandez, and Ruud van Nistelrooy, who have also represented both clubs during their careers. It’s clear that these two clubs have been home to some of the greatest footballers of all time, and it’s always exciting to see players move between them.