Liverpool FC has had many transfers throughout their history, some of which have been controversial. Here are five of the most controversial Liverpool transfers:
Luis Suarez (2011):
Liverpool signed Luis Suarez from Ajax for a fee of £22.8 million in January 2011. Suarez was involved in several controversial incidents during his time at Liverpool, including being found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United’s Patrice Evra in 2011. This is an odd one in that the controversies started after the transfer was made.
“Luis Suarez is a fantastic signing for Liverpool. He’s a player who can make a difference in the final third, and he’ll bring a lot of creativity and goals to the team.” – Jamie Carragher, former Liverpool defender
“Suarez is a great talent, but he also has a reputation for being controversial. Liverpool will have to manage him carefully.” – Alan Shearer, former England international and pundit
“Suarez is a world-class player who will add quality to Liverpool’s attack. He has a great work rate, and he’s always looking to make things happen.” – Kenny Dalglish, former Liverpool player and manager
“Suarez is a player who can change the course of a game with his individual brilliance. He’s a great signing for Liverpool.” – Gary Neville, former Manchester United defender and pundit
“Suarez is a top-class striker with incredible technical ability. He’s a great addition to Liverpool’s squad, and he’ll help them challenge for trophies.” – Jose Mourinho, former Chelsea manager.
Fernando Torres (2011):
In January 2011, Fernando Torres joined Chelsea in a £50 million deal that left Liverpool fans feeling betrayed. Torres was a fan favorite at Liverpool, and many fans were unhappy with his decision to leave for a rival club.
“It’s a great signing for Chelsea. Torres is one of the best strikers in the world, and he’ll add a new dimension to their attack.” – Gianfranco Zola, former Chelsea player
“Torres is a fantastic player, but his departure from Liverpool will leave a huge void in their attack.” – Alan Hansen, former Liverpool defender and pundit
“Torres is a great signing for Chelsea, but he’ll have to work hard to earn a place in their starting lineup. They have a lot of quality strikers already.” – Ruud Gullit, former Chelsea manager
“Torres is a proven goalscorer who will give Chelsea a real edge in front of goal. He’s a great addition to their squad.” – Harry Redknapp, former Tottenham manager and pundit
“Torres is a world-class player who has the ability to change games. He’s exactly the kind of player Chelsea need to challenge for the title.” – Jose Mourinho, former Chelsea manager.
Michael Owen (2004):
Michael Owen joined Real Madrid from Liverpool in August 2004 for a fee of £8 million. The transfer was controversial because many Liverpool fans felt that Owen had not been loyal to the club and that the fee was too low.
“Liverpool have sold Michael Owen for a disgraceful amount of money. They’re a big club, and they should have been able to command a much higher fee.” – Alan Hansen, former Liverpool defender and pundit
“Owen’s move to Real Madrid is a great opportunity for him to play at the highest level. He’s a top-class player, and he deserves to be playing for a club like Real Madrid.” – Gary Lineker, former England international and pundit
“Liverpool have made a huge mistake by selling Owen for such a low fee. He’s one of the best strikers in Europe, and they should have held out for a much higher price.” – Roy Keane, former Manchester United midfielder and pundit
“Owen is a world-class player, and he’ll fit in perfectly at Real Madrid. He’s a great signing for them, and he’ll help them win trophies.” – Roberto Carlos, former Real Madrid defender
“Liverpool’s decision to sell Owen for just £8 million is a strange one. He’s a great player, and they could have held out for more money.” – Arsene Wenger, former Arsenal manager.
Raheem Sterling (2015):
In July 2015, Raheem Sterling joined Manchester City from Liverpool for a fee of £44 million. Sterling’s departure from Liverpool was controversial because of the acrimonious nature of the transfer, with Sterling being accused of being greedy and disloyal to the club.
“Sterling is a great signing for Manchester City. He’s a young player with a lot of potential, and he’ll add a lot of pace and creativity to their attack.” – Gary Neville, former Manchester United defender and pundit
“Sterling is a top-class player who can make a difference in big games. He’s a great addition to Manchester City’s squad.” – Thierry Henry, former Arsenal striker and pundit
“Sterling’s move to Manchester City is a statement of intent from the club. They’re building a team to compete for trophies, and he’s a key part of that.” – Jamie Carragher, former Liverpool defender and pundit
“Sterling is a great young talent who has the potential to become one of the best players in the world. Manchester City have made a great investment in him.” – Pep Guardiola, Manchester City manager
“Sterling is a fantastic player who will thrive at Manchester City. He’s quick, skillful, and he has a great work rate. He’ll be a key player for them for years to come.” – Alan Shearer, former England international and pundit.
Philippe Coutinho (2018):
Philippe Coutinho joined Barcelona from Liverpool in January 2018 for a fee of £142 million. The transfer was controversial because Coutinho had been one of Liverpool’s best players, and his departure was seen as a blow to the team’s ambitions. Additionally, some Liverpool fans were upset that the club had sold Coutinho to a rival club.
“Coutinho is a top-class player who will make a huge impact at Barcelona. He’s versatile, creative, and he has an eye for goal.” – Xavi, former Barcelona midfielder
“Coutinho is a great signing for Barcelona. He’s a player who can create chances out of nothing, and he’ll fit in perfectly with their style of play.” – Rio Ferdinand, former Manchester United defender and pundit
“Coutinho is a world-class player who will bring a lot of quality to Barcelona’s midfield. He’s a great addition to their squad.” – Luis Suarez, Barcelona striker and Coutinho’s former teammate at Liverpool
“Coutinho is a player who can make a difference in big games. He has the ability to score goals from midfield and create chances for his teammates.” – Andres Iniesta, former Barcelona midfielder
“Coutinho is a fantastic player who has the potential to become one of the best in the world. His move to Barcelona is a great opportunity for him to develop his game further.” – Steven Gerrard, former Liverpool captain and Coutinho’s former teammate.
Any not on here you think should be? There is perhaps a debate to be had with Virgil Van Dyke, perhaps not so much for the controversy per se, but perhaps in the way the transfer back then was handled… any others?