Luis Figo names players he would swap between Barcelona and Real Madrid | OneFootball

Former Barcelona winger Luis Figo remains a divisive figure for Blaugrana supporters, but his recent comments about transfers have once again drawn attention.

In a recent talk, as relayed by MARCA, Figo was asked which players he would take if given the chance to swap between Barcelona and Real Madrid.

His answer highlighted two of the most consistent performers in Spanish football today.

“Perhaps Pedri from Barça. If it were the other way around, from Real Madrid, it would be Valverde. They are great players.

“They always perform at the highest level. They are a safe bet. And they are important to their teams,” Figo said.

The choice of Pedri reflects the Spaniard’s growing importance in Barcelona’s midfield, while Valverde has long been admired for his energy and reliability in Madrid’s setup.

Both are widely regarded as key figures for the future of their respective clubs.

Reflecting on his controversial transfer

Figo’s own move from Barcelona to Real Madrid back in 2000 remains one of the most controversial transfers in football history.

Figo would take Federico Valverde to Barcelona. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Real Madrid triggered his €62 million release clause, a record-breaking fee at the time, which led to Figo switching allegiances in what Barcelona fans still consider a betrayal.

Looking back, Figo admitted that the transfer sum was huge even then. “I already thought at the time [that €60 million] was a lot, imagine now that the market is much bigger. I still think it’s too much,” he reflected.

When asked about other transfers that impressed him, the Portuguese legend pointed to Neymar’s world-record switch to Paris Saint-Germain.

“First, because of what Barça paid and then because of what PSG paid. Logically, what surprises me today is what is paid for what I consider to be normal transfers.

“Nowadays, paying 60-70 million is normal. And that’s still a lot of money,” Figo added.

Even decades later, Figo’s transfer remains one of the defining moments in the Barcelona–Real Madrid rivalry.

His latest comments show that he still views the financial side of the game with the same mix of surprise and scepticism as many fans do today.