Five Iconic Swap Deals in Football History

In football, cash transactions are typical for transfers, but we’ve also seen notable swap deals over the years.

Manchester United and Juventus are currently discussing a swap involving Paulo Dybala and Romelu Lukaku.

Finding equal value for both clubs can be tricky, often leaving one party disadvantaged.

Here’s a look back at some famous swap deals in football history, with varying outcomes…

Roberto Carlos and Ivan Zamorano

Inter Milan wanted Chilean striker Ivan Zamorano, who had a successful season at Real Madrid in 1995. They offered £1m along with Brazilian left-back Roberto Carlos, who had joined Inter just a year earlier.

Real Madrid benefited from this deal, as Carlos became one of the greatest full-backs ever and won several major trophies.

Zamorano, however, struggled at Inter, failing to score double-digit goals in any of his five seasons. His most memorable moment was when he added a plus sign to his shirt number after Ronaldo was given the number nine jersey.

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Francesco Coco and Clarence Seedorf

Another swap involved Inter Milan and AC Milan. Inter wanted to exchange Dutch midfielder Clarence Seedorf for Italian defender Francesco Coco.

This move was a setback for Inter, as Coco made only 26 league appearances in five years due to injuries.

On the other hand, Seedorf thrived at AC Milan, making over 400 appearances and winning the Champions League twice.

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Ashley Cole and William Gallas

The transfer of Ashley Cole to Chelsea in 2006 was controversial, involving a £5m fee plus William Gallas. Prior to the deal, both clubs faced issues, including fines for illegal discussions.

Cole sought a move after being unhappy with his contract, while Gallas also wanted out and even made threats to score own goals if he wasn’t allowed to leave, which he later denied.

The deal angered Arsenal fans, but it turned out well for Chelsea, with Cole establishing himself as one of the best left-backs in the Premier League and winning major titles.

Gallas had a decent career but didn’t leave a positive legacy in North London, often remembered for controversies during his time there.

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Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Samuel Eto’o

Inter Milan once again features in a swap deal. This time, Barcelona exchanged Samuel Eto’o for Zlatan Ibrahimovic after winning the ‘treble’ in 2009.

Barcelona aimed to strengthen their team by acquiring Ibrahimovic, who had excelled at Inter. They offered a staggering £35m plus Eto’o, a top forward himself.

Inter benefited significantly, as Eto’o helped secure the Champions League title the following season under Jose Mourinho, completing a historic treble for Italian football.

Ibrahimovic’s time at Barcelona was difficult, leading to a clash with coach Pep Guardiola. Despite scoring 21 goals in his first season, he left for AC Milan the next year.

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Alexis Sanchez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan

Alexis Sanchez, a key player at Arsenal, moved to Manchester United as his contract was ending. The deal included a swap for Armenian midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, who had struggled since joining the Premier League.

United seemed to gain an advantage by signing a top player in exchange for one who was underperforming.

However, Sanchez’s transfer turned into a disaster, scoring only three league goals since arriving and facing issues over his £500,000-a-week salary.

This large wage has made it hard for United to negotiate deals for other players, while Mkhitaryan’s performances at Arsenal have also been inconsistent since the move.

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