‘Figo was a traitor, Neymar left for money’

When talking about rivalries between football clubs, not many are as serious and driven by bile as that of Real Madrid and Barcelona. Now Imagine if one of Barca’s major star moved to the Camp Nou? That is exactly what happened in 2000, when Luis Figo crossed the most volatile divide within the game.

Catalonia had embraced Figo and thought of him as one of their own. Fans threw a pigs head at him on his second game back at the Camp Nou in Real’s white.

Neymar’s move to PSG for a world record 222m Euros made him a hated figure among many Barca fans. The Brazilian was going to be Barca’s main stay one day but he moved for new challenges. For former Barcelona president Joan Gaspart however, Figo was treacherous while Neymar is just hungry for money.

While talking to Radio Marca, Gaspart said: "Neymar's possible move to Madrid is not comparable with Figo.

Neymar’s move to PSG also opens the door for him to make a move to Real Madrid -- a club which has openly sought him on a number of occasions. But even if Neymar makes the move to Real Madrid, the fans would not be as incensed because the circumstances were not the same. Florentino Perez had made a election promise that Figo was to become a Real Madrid player if he was elected. He then went on to win the elections and triggered Figo's release clause.

"Figo left with treachery and with no time to renew the team, and he was a coward who betrayed us.

"Neymar went for money, full stop," Gaspart suggested.

He also opined that defender Gerard Pique could one day become Barcelona president.

Pique could be president," Gaspart stated.

"I've known him since he was a kid and he's showing that as a businessman he does very well.

"If Beckenbauer, Angel Maria Villar and Platini can do it... why not Pique?"