Source: Daily_Mail
The List: Sportsmail's top 50 free transfers, Nos 40-31
HAVE YOUR SAY... Who is your favourite free transfer? Sol Campbell, Henrik Larsson, Ruud Gullit and John Collins make the cut as we count down the 50 best free transfers in world football. We reckon we've nailed it but, as ever, we want to know what you think of Sportsmail's latest edition of The List. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK The best things in life are free - but don't tell Real Madrid.[LNB]The Spanish giants paid Manchester United a world record £80million for Cristiano Ronaldo last summer but teams don't always have to break the bank to land a superstar.[LNB]At the other end of the scale we have the free transfers.[LNB]Inthe week that Arsenal legend Sol Campbell rejoined the Gunners,Sportsmail's team of experts have come up with their favourite freebies.[LNB]And, as always, we want to know what you think about The List.[LNB]Read Nos 50-4140 Ronaldo (AC Milan to Corinthians)You can't keep a good man down and, despite devastating knee injurieswhich would have ended many other players' careers, Ronaldo is stillputting in the performances and prospering after his 2008 move toCorinthians in his native Brazil. [LNB]Ronaldo suffered a ruptured knee ligament, the third such injuryhe had sustained, which signalled the end of his AC Milan career butafter a period of rehabilitation, he signed a one-year deal withCorinthians. [LNB]His return to Brazil has been a triumphant one, 23 goals in 38appearances and he has even stated his desire to play at this summer'sWorld Cup.[LNB] World beater: Ronaldo[LNB]Dutch of class: Kluivert[LNB] 39 Patrick Kluivert (Ajax to AC Milan)There's getting a bargain and there's this fancy deal that saw one ofthe players of his generation move from the all-conquering Ajax side ofthe mid 1990s to AC Milan for nothing - it was quite a coup for theSerie A side.[LNB]However, Kluivert's reputation deemed that anything other than agoal-fest would be considered a failure. [LNB]Just six in 32appearances for the Rossoneri meant that the big Dutchman stayed justone season before moving to Barcelona.[LNB]38 Denis Law (Man United to Man City)[LNB]A name synonymous with Sir Matt Busby's Manchester United team that wasso dominant in the 1960 and 70s, Law won the plaudits and trophies atOld Trafford - only to be involved in the club's demise following amove to rivals Manchester City. [LNB]Law (right) won two League titles in 1965 and 1967, the FA Cup in 1963 and wasvoted European Footballer of the Year in 1964.[LNB] But after manager Tommy Dochertyallowed his fellow Scotsman to leave in 1973, Law returnedand it was his back-heel, in his final game, which gave City a 1-0 win at the home of theirrivals on the day the Red Devils were relegated to Division Two.[LNB][LNB]37 Kevin Campbell (Everton to West Brom)In terms of impact, few have made as great a difference to a club asCampbell made to West Brom after his move from Everton in January 2005. [LNB]The former Arsenal and Nottingham Forest striker helped Bryan Robson'sBaggies stave off relegation after lying bottom at Christmas. They remain the only club to have pulled off such a great escape.[LNB] Campbell was made captain soon after his arrival at the Hawthorns,helping Robson's side win 21 points in his 16 appearances and scoring three goals as they avoided the drop on the final day of theseason. Dramatic stuff.[LNB] Big hit: Campbell[LNB]Classy: Zenden[LNB] 36 Boudewijn Zenden (Chelsea to Middlesbrough)There's nothing wrong with wanting to test-drive a product before youbuy it, which is exactly what Middlesbrough did by signing Zenden onloan in the 2003-04 season, before making the move permanent in July2004. [LNB]The Dutch winger helped Boro to the first major trophy in the club'shistory with their League Cup victory over Bolton in Cardiff and, thefollowing season, he played 36 of 38 League games, scoring five goalsand winning the Boro fans' 2005 Player of the Year award.[LNB]35 Luca Toni (Bayern to Roma)One club's loss is another's gain, and in this instance, Bayern lost theirprolific goalscorer to Roma after the Italy striker's fall-out withthe German club's manager Louis van Gaal. [LNB]Toni has an impeccable scoring record at every club he has worked atand has picked up where he left off in Germany with two goals in two starts back in his homeland.[LNB] When in Rome: Toni[LNB]American dream: Beckham[LNB] 34 David Beckham (Real Madrid to LA Galaxy)A move that many believed was about the money, Beckham claimed he wasrelocating to LA Galaxy to help develop the game inAmerica.[LNB]Either way, the MLS club paid nothing - by way of a fee - to sign thebiggest name in world football in 2007 and the shirts instantly started tofly out of the club shop.[LNB]Fansturned on Beckham when he returned from his first loan spell with ACMilan (where he is back on loan now) but he won them over as his sidereached the MLS Cup final.[LNB]While Galaxy may not have scooped the silverware, everyone certainly knows their name now. [LNB]33 Bobby Charlton (Man United to Preston North End)[LNB]Another famous Manchester United name who made a free move away from Old Trafford towards the end of an illustrious career.[LNB]Preston were the beneficiaries of his second-to-none experience asCharlton (right) became player-manager at Deepdale where he made 38 appearancesand scored eight goals in two years at the club.[LNB]32 Rivaldo (Barcelona to AC Milan)In 1999, Rivaldo won the Spanish title with Barcelona and wasvoted the FIFA World Player of the Year and European Footballer of theYear - three years later he was on his way out of the door on afree to AC Milan. [LNB]He scored five goals in 22 appearances with the Italian giants, lifted the ItalianCup and the Champions League in 2003 before returning toBrazil to play for Cruzeiro.[LNB] Samba star: Rivaldo[LNB]Something special: Gascoigne[LNB] 31 Paul Gascoigne (Middlesbrough - Everton)A troubled soul off it but certainly a genius on the pitch, Gazza continues the fight with his demons. [LNB]But we still have great memories of what he achieved during his playing career. [LNB]Just 38 appearances and one goal in 18 months after moving to Goodison in July 2000 was testament to his progressing years but he still showed flashes of the brilliance that endeared him to us all in his younger days. [LNB]The best of the rest of The ListSportsmail's top 50 Premier League players of the decadeSportsmail's top 50 last-gasp goals in British footballSportsmail's top 50 footballers never to play at the World CupSportsmail's top 50 sporting feuds of all timeSportsmail's 50 great sports photographsSportsmail's top 50 commentators of all timeSportsmail's top 50 sporting venuesSportsmail's top 50 performers of the season so farSportsmail's top 50 all-time managers in BritainSportsmail's top 50 goal poachersSportsmail's top 50 footballing traitorsSportsmail's top 50 FA Cup heroesSportsmail's greatest Wembley finals in historySportsmail's top 50 biggest hitters in cricketSportsmail's top 50 British & Irish LionsSportsmail's top 50 Ashes heroes
