Four times ex-rival players have come back to haunt them

 Football fans can become easily attached to a player over time at their club for multiple reasons, such as scoring goals against rivals, possessing a specific trait, or even just having a competitive streak.

But when someone leaves their club to go to a rival, that relationship between fan and player can be broken, and when that player comes back to face their former team, the reception isn't always what the player expects or wants.

Last night, in the Champions League , Jens Petter Hauge scored against Inter Milan to help Bodo/Glimt knock them out of the competition.

Hauge spent the 20/21 season playing for AC Milan , in which he scored eight goals in 28 appearances for the Rossoneri.

DAZN News takes a deeper look into when players came back to haunt a former rival club. 

Luis Suarez(Getty Images)

The former Liverpool striker has played for multiple big European clubs in his career.

But in 2021, playing for Atletico Madrid, Suarez bagged a goal to help Atletico get a 1-1 draw against Real Madrid  and helped Atletico win La Liga that year ahead of Los Blancos by two points.

As a  Barcelona star for six seasons between 2014 and 2020, he got used to facing Real and enjoyed scoring against them too, netting 11 goals across 15 meetings in his Barca career. 

Wayne Rooney(C)Getty Images

When Rooney made his Everton debut at just 16 years old, many thought he was going to be at the club for years to come. Until Manchester United came in for the Englishman in 2004, he couldn't refuse.

Across his United career, Rooney seemed to like playing Manchester City ; he scored 11 goals in all competitions against 'the noisy neighbours' over their 25 meetings, making him the highest scorer in Manchester derbies as well as scoring his 50th and 150th Premier League goals against them.

Rooney would make a return to Everton in 2017, and it took him 35 minutes to add to his tally against City, helping Everton to a 1-1 draw at the Etihad, bagging his 200th Premier League goal along the way. 

Robin Van Persie

The Dutchman currently sits third all-time for Arsenal Premier League goalscorers with 96, and over his career in North London, he scored 5 in 14 Premier League appearances against Tottenham .

But when RvP went to Manchester United in the summer of 2012, Arsenal  fans weren't too happy due to the historic rivalry between the two clubs.

Van Persie was a key part of United winning their 20th league title that season, and it didn't help having to give him a guard of honour after they secured the league. 

But along the way, Van Persie came back to bite Spurs again, scoring in a 1-1 draw at White Hart Lane, and giving a little back to the fans in his celebration.

Danny Welbeck(Getty Images)

For the majority of Danny Welbeck's career at Arsenal, it was plagued with injuries, and they never got to see the promising talent that was shown on display at Manchester United.

In 2020, Brighton came in for the England forward, and since then, has been prolific for the Seagulls, scoring 42 goals in 165 appearances. 

Welbeck did give some joy back to the Arsenal fans at the expense of Tottenham in 2024, as Welbeck scored the winner in a 3-2 comeback win for Brighton over Spurs.

 

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