Eight best ever free transfers as PSG make Marcus Rashford interest public
Marcus Rashford will be looking to join the likes of Lionel Messi and Robert Lewandowski as exceptional free transfers should he join PSG from Manchester United this summer.
The 25-year-old has turned his career around with good form for both United and England, with PSG president Nasser Al-Khelaifi admitting interest in the forward this week.
Should the Ligue 1 giants get their man, he could follow in the footsteps of some incredible successful free transfers with Daily Star Sport picking out eight examples below.
READ MORE: Man Utd fear they will have to sell Marcus Rashford with Real Madrid also linked
Sol Campbell – Arsenal
First on our list is Sol Campbell, who took a long time deliberating over a free transfer to Arsenal from Tottenham – which eventually enraged his former supporters.
Despite that pressure, the ex-England international flourish in red to win two Premier League titles including the Invincible season as well as three FA Cups and also scoring in the Champions League final.
Campbell became one of the earliest examples of a hugely successful free transfer, pathing the way for not just Premier League sides but European giants.
Esteban Cambiasso – Inter
Argentina icon Esteban Cambiasso is best known for his 10-year spell at Inter Milan where he picked up five Serie A titles and a Champions League victory in 2010.
The midfield general joined the Italian giants from Real Madrid for nothing following two seasons in Spain where he struggled for appearances.
Cambiasso left Inter as an icon in 2014 before spells with Leicester City and Olympiacos, calling time on his playing days in 2017.
Cafu – AC Milan
Cafu is one of the greatest right-backs in the history of football thanks to his Brazil heroics as well as consistency at club level across South America and Europe.
He is best known for playing in Brazil's 1994 and 2002 World Cup triumphs as well as his five years at AC Milan where he won Serie A and the Champions League.
What you might not remember is Cafu first playing six seasons with Roma, where he also won Serie A, before leaving on a free in the summer of 2003.
Are they any free transfers we should've included? Tell us in comments section below.
David Alaba – Real Madrid
David Alaba became a Bayern Munich legend by helping them to 10 Bundesliga titles during his time in Germany while playing as a midfielder but most often at left-back.
Having won the Champions League for a second time in 2020, Alaba opted for a new challenge in 2021 with his contract coming to an end.
The Austria hero joined Real Madrid where he has played in the middle of defence, winning La Liga and the Champions League under Carlo Ancelotti last season.
Paul Pogba – Juventus
Paul Pogba's initial move to United from Juventus might well be the best piece of business in football history thanks to his later return to Old Trafford.
Having moved to Italy on a free transfer in 2012, he helped them to four consecutive Serie A title and four domestic cups before his £89.3million Premier League return.
Having flopped back at United and only won one Europa League and one League Cup, he is now back at Juventus but missed France's 2022 World Cup campaign with injury.
Andrea Pirlo – Juventus
Juventus have been the kings of free transfers in recent seasons, with Andrea Pirlo at the very top of the list having been allowed to leave AC Milan in 2011.
The genius playmaker went on to run things in Turin for the next four seasons, winning as many Serie A titles while becoming an icon to supporters.
Having become manager of the club and winning both the Coppa Italia and Supercoppa Italiana, he left in 2021 and now manages Fatih Karagumruk.
Robert Lewandowski – Bayern Munich
Robert Lewandowski broke the hearts of Borussia Dortmund fans when joining Bayern Munich in 2014 – and it was even more painful because he left on a free transfer.
The Polish icon went on to win eight Bundesliga titles and score 334 goals across his 375 appearances, since leaving to join Barcelona.
Having moved to Spain on a cut-price fee of around £40m, he has since scored 18 goals across his 19 appearances, as well as netting twice at the World Cup.
Lionel Messi – PSG
PSG swooped in to sign Lionel Messi when it emerged that Barcelona couldn't afford to keep him – and have watched him flourish in his second season.
Messi won Ligue 1 last season under Mauricio Pochettino but looked off the pace at times, righting that this time out with seven goals and ten assists from his 13 league appearances.
Despite now being 35, the signing of Messi has been a masterstroke from PSG who paraded him around the pitch with his Ballon d'Or shortly after signing.
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