After Lampard returned to Stamford Bridge on Saturday, here’s some more controversial Premier League returners…
We take a look at some of the most controversial Premier League returns following Chelsea legend Frank Lampard’s return to Stamford Bridge after he made the shock move to title-rivals Manchester City.
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Frank Lampard – Manchester City to Chelsea
Chelsea’s all-time top goalscorer with 211 goals left the club he served for 13 years last summer, and was seemingly on his way to the MLS with New York City FC.
However, the transfer hit controversy when soon after being unveiled by the American club, Lampard joined Manchester City on loan.
In his first game against the Blues at Etihad, the Chelsea legend typically scored the equaliser which he refused to celebrate.
Wayne Rooney – Manchester United to Everton
The England captain infamously declared his love for Everton when he revealed a top with the words ‘Once a blue, always a blue’.
Rooney moved to Manchester United in a £25.6m transfer, and the t-shirt only made the fans feel betrayed by their star striker.
Three years on from the move, in a trip to Goodison Park, Everton were 2-0 up after 50 minutes, but United fought back to equalise, and when they did, Rooney kissed the badge of his shirt to rile the home crowd.
Carlos Tevez – Manchester City to Manchester United
Tevez signed for rivals Manchester City for a claimed fee of £47m, and the striker became became the first player to move between the two Manchester clubs since Terry Cooke moved from United to City in 1999.
Infamously, during City’s title-parade in 2012, Tevez was caught on camera waving a banner reading ‘RIP Fergie’ – the meaning behind the banner was seemingly in reference to Ferguson claiming that United would not be underdogs to to City in his lifetime.
The club and the striker soon apologised to Sir Alex Ferguson and Manchester United.
Sol Campbell – Tottenham Hotspur to Arsenal
Campbell’s move to North London rivals Arsenal from Tottenham inevitably resulted in some Spurs supporters labelling the defender a ‘Judas’.
The anger from Spurs fans remained years after the transfer, and four Tottenham fans were even banned from every football ground in England and Wales after being found guilty of chanting offensive songs.
In March last year Campbell apologised to Tottenham fans for the Arsenal move stating that he was sorry for the pain it had caused, but had no regrets over the transfer.
Emmanuel Adebayor – Manchester City to Arsenal
A striker who seems to cause controversy at whichever club he is at, and one who enjoys the pantomime show of the sport.
Adebayor signed for Manchester City in a £25m transfer from Arsenal, and in a 4-2 victory over his former club just two months after leaving, the forward famously ran almost the entire length of the pitch to celebrate in front of the Gunners fans.
The celebration earned him a yellow-card and a subsequent two-match ban for improper conduct.