Players who have played for both Real Madrid and Barcelona: full list

Real Madrid have confirmed the signing of former Barcelona youth academy product Marc Cucurella from Chelsea on a six-year contract, adding another unexpected chapter to one of soccer’s fiercest rivalries.

A familiar face with an unusual path

Admittedly, Cucurella may be more recognizable to some fans for his trademark curly hair than for his early career at Barcelona. The Spain international joined La Masia at age 14 in 2012 and went on to make more than 50 appearances for Barcelona’s B team.

However, his senior breakthrough at Camp Nou was limited to just one appearance, coming as a substitute in a 3-0 Copa del Rey win over Real Murcia in October 2017.

Loan spells and a Premier League breakthrough

The left back gained valuable LaLiga experience through loan spells with Eibar and Getafe before making a permanent move away from Barcelona in the summer of 2021, joining Brighton in the English Premier League.

After five years in England, including the last four with Chelsea, Cucurella now finds himself on the opposite side of the Clasico divide, set to play for Real Madrid against the club where his career began.

A rare Clásico crossover

At 27, Cucurella becomes the first player since Marcos Alonso to represent both Real Madrid and Barcelona. Alonso, who he effectively succeeded at Stamford Bridge, followed a similar path, having made just one first-team appearance for Madrid before later joining Barcelona.

A short list of football’s biggest crossovers

Luis Figo remains the most infamous player to have crossed the Clásico divide after his blockbuster move from Barcelona to Real Madrid in 2000.

Other notable names include current Paris Saint-Germain manager Luis Enrique and two-time Ballon d’Or winner Ronaldo, both of whom also featured for both Spanish giants during their careers.

Which players have played for both Real Madrid and Barcelona?

Alfonso Albéniz

• Barcelona: 1901–1902
• Real Madrid: 1902–1903, 1911–1912

José Quirante

• Barcelona: 1906–1911
• Real Madrid: 1911–1913

Arsenio Comamala

• Barcelona: 1903–1913
• Real Madrid: 1911–1913

Walter Rositzky

• Barcelona: 1911–1913
• Real Madrid: 1913–1914

Ricardo Zamora

• Barcelona: 1919–1922
• Real Madrid: 1930–1936

Josep Samitier

• Barcelona: 1919–1932
• Real Madrid: 1932–1934

Hilario Marrero

• Barcelona: 1930–1932
• Real Madrid: 1932–1934

Josep Escolà

• Barcelona: 1934–1948
• Real Madrid: 1948–1949

László Kaszás

• Barcelona: 1958–1959
• Real Madrid: 1959–1961

Fernand Goyvaerts

• Barcelona: 1962–1965
• Real Madrid: 1965–1966

Lucien Müller

• Real Madrid: 1962–1965
• Barcelona: 1965–1968

Bernd Schuster

• Barcelona: 1980–1988
• Real Madrid: 1988–1990

Luis Milla

• Barcelona: 1984–1990
• Real Madrid: 1990–1997

Miquel Soler

• Barcelona: 1988–1995
• Real Madrid: 1995–1996

Alfonso Pérez

• Real Madrid: 1989–1995
• Barcelona: 1995–1996

Luis Enrique

• Real Madrid: 1991–1996
• Barcelona: 1996–2004

Luís Figo

• Barcelona: 1995–2000
• Real Madrid: 2000–2005

Albert Celades

• Barcelona: 1994–1999
• Real Madrid: 2000–2003

Ronaldo

• Barcelona: 1996–1997
• Real Madrid: 2002–2007

Javier Saviola

• Barcelona: 2001–2007
• Real Madrid: 2007–2009

Marcos Alonso

• Real Madrid: 2008–2010
• Barcelona: 2022–2024

Marc Cucruella

• Barcelona: 2017-2020
• Real Madrid: 2026-

Get closer to the game! Whether you like your soccer of the European variety or that on this side of the pond, our AS USA app has it all. Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more. Plus, stay updated on NFL, NBA and all other big sports stories as well as the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.

And there’s more: check out our TikTok and Instagram reels for bite-sized visual takes on all the biggest soccer news and insights.