Courtois, Sanchez, and More: Top 10 Players Who Have Played for Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid

Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid, two of Spain’s biggest football clubs, share a fierce rivalry. They share opposing philosophies — both on and off the pitch — have strong squads capable of beating any team on their day, and do not hesitate to flirt with the limits of the rules to gain an edge. There is palpable animosity between the two clubs, which is why not many players have dared to cross over to the other side.

In the list below, we will check out a few exceptions — meet the top 10 players who have been bold enough to play for both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid.

#10 Marcos Llorente

Rising through the ranks at Real Madrid, Marcos Llorente made his senior team debut in a 3-0 win over Levante in La Liga on 17 October 2015. Unable to get regular minutes, Llorente ed Deportivo Alaves on loan, with Madrid opting to let him develop at a less demanding club. The Spaniard impressed at Alaves and earned his place at Real Madrid. However, with Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, and Casemiro firing on all cylinders, Llorente could not become a regular, which eventually led to his shock exit to Atletico Madrid in 2019. Before switching to the Rojiblancos, the midfielder played 39 matches for Los Blancos in all competitions, scoring two goals.

Llorente settled in nicely at Atletico, with Diego Simeone making the most of his versatility. He enjoyed a jaw-dropping La Liga campaign in the 2020-21 season, chipping in with 12 goals and 11 assists in 37 matches. His heroics helped Atletico win the Spanish top-flight title ahead of favourites Real Madrid and Barcelona. Since his move to Atletico, Llorente has played 233 games in all competitions, recording 32 goals and 36 assists.

#9 Juan Antonio Ipina

Versatile midfielder Juan Antonio Ipina ed Atletico Madrid from Real Sociedad (then Donostia FC) in July 1935. Although he was at his best in the middle of the park, Ipina could also operate effectively as a left-midfielder and a centre-back. Ipina spent just one season at Atletico, featuring in 22 La Liga matches. He played 10 of those matches as a centre-back.

Ipina took a three-year career break before g for Atletico’s arch-rivals Real Madrid in 1939. He emerged as one of the finest players in Spain during his 10-season stint at Real Madrid, with him recording 10 goals in 291 matches across competitions. Ipina helped Los Merengues win two Copas del Generalisimo and one Copa Eva Duarte. Ipina also coached Madrid from April 1952 to May 1953.

#8 Juanfran

Real Madrid signed promising young right-back Juanfran Torres from Kelme U19 in the summer of 2001. Juanfran quickly became a regular at Castilla and went on to make his debut for the first team in January 2004. He played a 14-minute cameo as Madrid claimed a narrow 2-1 win over Villarreal in La Liga. He made four more La Liga appearances in the 2003-04 season, but, unfortunately, things only went downhill from there. Juanfran only played one game in La Liga in 2004-05 before ing Espanyol on loan. Upon his return, Madrid sold the Spaniard to Osasuna in the summer of 2006. During his brief stint at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Juanfran only played 11 games, claiming two assists.

Following a fine four-and-a-half-year stint at Osasuna, Juanfran ed Atletico Madrid. Diego Simeone turned Juanfran into one of the most defensively astute right-backs in the business, with the defender stopping some of the most fearsome forwards in their tracks. Before leaving Europe for Sao Paulo in August 2019, Juanfran clocked 355 games in all competitions, recording six goals and 42 assists. He helped Los Colchoneros win one La Liga title and two Europa Leagues among other honours.

#7 Jose Antonio Reyes

Having seen Jose Antonio Reyes light up the Premier League with Arsenal, Real Madrid lured him away on loan ahead of the 2006-07 season. The nimble-footed winger performed decently in the Spanish capital, scoring seven goals and providing four assists in 38 games across competitions. His six goals and two assists proved to be handy as the All-Whites won the Spanish top-flight title that season.

Madrid, however, were not fully convinced and did not make his move permanent, allowing noisy neighbours Atletico Madrid to swoop in and sign him from Arsenal. Reyes became a mainstay at Atletico Madrid after returning from a loan spell at Benfica and went on to take part in 154 matches across competitions before ing Sevilla in 2012. He scored 14 goals and provided 31 assists for Atletico, helping them win two UEFA Europa Leagues.

Reyes tragically lost his life at the young age of 35 due to a fatal car accident.

#6 Santiago Solari

Atletico Madrid brought Argentine left-midfielder Santiago Solari to Europe in January 1999. They signed him on a free after he ran down his contract with River Plate. Solari had a fine full season at Atletico Madrid, with him finding the back of the net six times in 34 La Liga matches. However, it ultimately counted for nought, as Atletico Madrid finished 19th in the league and dropped to the second division.

Real Madrid made the most of Atletico’s misfortunes by g Solari for a mere €3.5 million (£2.9 million). Solari did not impress in his debut season at the Santiago Bernabeu, but by the second season, he had turned it around, becoming an important member of the squad. He started for Madrid in the 2001-02 Champions League final against Bayer Leverkusen and was involved in the play that led to Zinedine Zidane’s iconic match-winning volley.

Solari spent five seasons wearing the iconic white shirt of Madrid before g for Inter Milan. Across competitions, Solari played 208 matches, scoring 22 goals and providing 19 assists. Solari won two La Liga titles and one Champions League with Real Madrid among other honours. The Argentinian, who currently works as Madrid’s Director of Professional Football, also coached the first team for a brief period in the 2018-19 season.

#5 Alvaro Morata

After making a name for himself at RM Castilla, Alvaro Morata officially got the senior-team contract ahead of the 2013-14 season. He played 34 games and scored nine goals as Los Blancos won the UEFA Champions League and Copa del Rey that season. Although he did a fine job, Benzema was still the undisputed No. 9 at Real Madrid. So, after much deliberation, Madrid sold Morata to Juventus for €20 million (£16.5 million). The Spanish frontman did well at Juve and compelled Madrid to exercise their buyback option just a couple of years later.

Morata returned to Real Madrid in a €30 million (£24.8 million) deal. Although he still played second fiddle to Benzema, Morata proved his worth, scoring 20 goals and providing six assists in 43 appearances across competitions. His goal contributions proved crucial as Los Blancos won La Liga and the UEFA Champions League.

The Whites were happy with Morata, but Chelsea’s €66 million (£54.5 million) bid proved to be too lucrative to turn down. Before closing his Real Madrid chapter, Morata played 95 games for the club in all competitions, scoring 31 goals and providing 11 assists.

Morata returned to Madrid in January 2019, as Atletico signed him on a one-and-a-half-year loan from Chelsea. In July 2020, Los Rojiblancos made his stay permanent, paying his €35 million (28.9 million) transfer fee. Morata, surprisingly, ed Juventus on loan the same summer, g a two-year contract. He returned to Atletico in June 2022 and spent two fine seasons at the club before leaving permanently for AC Milan.

Morata played 154 games for Atletico across competitions, scoring 58 goals.

#4 Monchin Triana

Monchin Triana began his senior career with Atletico Madrid in 1919. A formidable striker, Monchin scored 35 goals in 75 league appearances across nine seasons, becoming the club’s all-time top scorer at the time. Teammate Cosme Vazquez sured his tally in his final season at Atletico.

Monchin won three regional titles with Atletico Madrid and helped them reach two Copa del Rey finals. His heroics went a long way in establishing Los Colchoneros as one of the most prominent teams in Spain.

Monchin ed Real Madrid in 1928 and helped them reach to Copa finals. He also proved decisive — scoring three goals in three games — as Madrid won their first La Liga title in the 1931-32 season.

Monchin, belonging to a well-off Catholic family, was tragically targeted by Republican militiamen shortly after the 1936 uprising. The attacker was imprisoned without trial alongside his two brothers and was killed as part of the Paracuellos massacres.

#3 Thibaut Courtois

Atletico Madrid signed Belgian goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois from Premier League outfit Chelsea on a long-term loan in the summer of 2011. The tall and athletic goalkeeper hit the ground running at the Vicente Calderon Stadium, becoming Diego Simeone’s No. 1 pick. He helped Atletico win the UEFA Europa League in his debut season. Then the Copa del Rey and the UEFA Supercup in 2012-13. And finally, the La Liga title in the 2013-14 season. Atletico also reached their first-ever Champions League final in 2013-14, but Real Madrid ultimately had the last laugh. During his three-season stint at Atletico, Courtois played 154 matches, keeping 76 clean sheets and conceding 125 goals.

Courtois moved to Real Madrid in the summer of 2018, shortly after putting in a Golden Glove-winning shift for Belgian at the FIFA World Cup. The ex-Chelsea man had a difficult first season, but since 2019-20, he has been nearly unbeatable. Courtesy of his spectacular saves and presence of mind, Los Merengues have won three La Liga titles and two UEFA Champions League trophies in the last five years. The 32-year-old has played 270 games, maintaining 108 clean sheets and conceding 256 goals.

#2 Prudencio Sanchez

Prudencio Sanchez moved to Atletico Madrid from UD Salamanca in the summer of 1940. A prolific centre-forward, Sanchez enjoyed a blistering debut season with Atletico. He scored a whopping 33 times in 22 La Liga games, firing his team to the title and comfortably winning the Golden Boot.

A proud Salamanca fan, Sanchez returned to his boyhood club in 1941 to help them secure promotion to the Spanish top flight. However, despite giving it his all, Salamanca fell short, which paved the way for his switch to Real Madrid.

Sanchez spent five seasons at Real Madrid, scoring a whopping 87 goals in just 116 appearances across competitions. He fired the European giants to two consecutive Copas del Rey between 1945-46 and 1946-47.

#1 Hugo Sanchez

Arguably the greatest player Mexico has produced, Hugo Sanchez signed for Atletico Madrid from UNAM Pumas on loan in July 1981. After dazzling Los Rojiblancos with his goals, he sealed a permanent move to the club in 1982. Sanchez maintained his blistering scoring run, scoring 75 goals in 150 games during his stint with Atletico. He won his first Pichichi in the 1984-85 season, scoring 19 times in the Spanish top flight.

Real Madrid struck a deal to sign Sanchez ahead of the 1985-86 season. However, to reduce backlash, Atletico avoided a direct transfer. They sent Sanchez first to Pumas, allowing Real Madrid to prize him away.

Sanchez was already sensational at Atletico, but he unlocked a whole new level at Real Madrid. During his seven-year run at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Sanchez scored 208 goals in 282 matches in all competitions, firing Madrid to five consecutive La Liga titles and one UEFA Cup amongst other accolades. He scored a whopping 38 goals in the 1989-90 La Liga season to win the European Golden Shoe.