It's been quite a week for players returning to haunt their past employers, with three - Danny Welbeck, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and David Luiz - sticking it to their former clubs in as many days. To celebrate such a rabid outbreak of treachery, The18 felt duty-bound to compile a brief list of some of the most dastardly and bitter-sweet strike backs in football history.
5. Cristiano Ronaldo, February 2013
Cristiano Ronaldo returned to Old Trafford for the first (and only) time with Real Madrid in 2013 for a Champions League Last-16 second-leg tie. United held the advantage after a 1-1 draw at the Bernabau but, having gone 1-0 up on the night, saw Nani sent off with 35 minutes remaining. Ronaldo duly scored the winner. It was the last big European night in Sir Alex Ferguson's 26-year tenure at Old Trafford, ended by the man who called him "my father in football."
4. David Luiz, March 2015
Sold for a staggering $80 million last year to Paris Saint-Germain, this week Luiz returned to Stamford Bridge in the Champions League and knocked his former employers out of the competition. The ultimate pantomime villain – with the hair to match – Luiz's 86th minute bullet header took the game to extra time, whereafter he forced a fine save out of Courtois from a direct free-kick before doing his level best to get Diego Costa sent off. Fellow Brazilian Thiago Silva delivered the coup de grâce.
3. Danny Welbeck, March 2015
Danny Welbeck was Manchester United through-and-through, born and raised. He'd played for the Red Devils since he was 11-years-old, always giving his all for the shirt. But sentimentality isn't in Louis van Gaal's remit. He packed Welbeck off to Arsenal on deadline day last summer, stating that the England striker “doesn’t have the record of Van Persie or Rooney, and that is the standard.”
On his first return to Old Trafford this Monday, Welbeck duly stuffed van Gaal’s words down his throat. His winner secured Arsenal’s first victory against United in the FA Cup since 2003, and sent the Red Devils crashing out of a competition they haven’t won in over a decade.
2. Emaneul Adebayore, September 2009
Emanuel Adebayore left Arsenal somewhat acrimoniously in 2009, signing with nouveau riche Manchester City for the princely sum of $35 million. Now, strictly speaking, Adebayore didn’t “return” to score against Arsenal in City's 4-2 Premier League victory over The Gunners, but such was his effort and commitment to celebrating in front of his former supporters - who had been showering him with abuse throughout the match - that he nevertheless demands a place on this list.
1. Denis Law, May 1974
Denis Law scored 237 goals for Manchester United over an 11-year spell that included two league titles, an FA Cup and a European Cup. It was a haul that earned him the nickname "The King" and, with George Best and Bobby Charlton, he formed the United Trinity.
Law was released by United in the summer of 1973 and, at 37 years of age, signed a contract with bitter rivals City. The last day of the 1973-74 season saw Law return to the ground he called home for so long, with his former team needing a win to stay in the top flight of English football. In the 81st minute, with the score at 0-0, the ball broke to Law in the box, and the Scot back-heeled it into the net to relegate United.
Law was substituted immediately after, trudging off the pitch disconsolate. It was the last game of domestic professional football he ever played.
