A dramatic chapter unfolds around Paulo Futre, Jose Veiga, and Florentino Pérez as the events that pushed Luis Figo from Barcelona to Real Madrid are recounted in a new documentary about a transfer that forever changed football. The film, directed by David Tryhorn and Ben Nicholas and produced by Pitch Productions, is titled The Figo Case: The Signature of the Century. It traces the sequence of talks, decisions, and coincidences that led to the iconic switch from the azulgrana to the white jersey, casting a long shadow over both clubs involved.
Clocking in at 104 minutes, the Netflix release offers multiple perspectives from people who witnessed the saga firsthand. It weaves together the moments of deliberation, the choices of the player, and the roles played by figures such as Florentino Pérez, the former Real Madrid president who championed the move; Joan Gaspart, then Barcelona’s president; Pep Guardiola, a friend and colleague in the Barcelona dressing room; and Jorge Valdano, among others. The documentary emphasizes that the core maneuver was driven by two key figures, Futre and Veiga, whose strategic steps set the plan in motion and left Camp Nou fans with a complex mix of admiration and anger as Figo began to appear in Real Madrid colors on matchdays.
According to the film, Futre—an associate and confidant in the operation—was instrumental in informing Pérez of Real Madrid’s interest while Barcelona remained entangled in negotiations over a new contract. In one telling moment, Futre describes how he hinted at action by contacting Veiga in Pérez’s presence, then quickly letting the line go dead as a ruse to hedge his own words. The actor behind the scenes claims that those brief seconds, spent shaping the narrative, were pivotal to the entire operation. He asserts that a commission of six million euros would be divided between himself and his ally if the transfer was realized, underscoring the financial incentives embedded in the deal.
Veiga soon drafted a preliminary contract with Real Madrid as a form of commitment, with Figo reportedly briefed by Veiga and asked for permission to sign. Multiple accounts exist within the film. One version claims a pre-contract was in place, and that Figo was asked to approve, while another account asserts that Figo never actually signed any binding document and that Pérez and Veiga held a different understanding. In a retelling favored by Veiga, the representative describes a conversation in which he asked Figo through the player’s perspective on signing, to which Figo responded affirmatively after being informed of the terms.
Figo’s own stance during the summer of the signing was nuanced. The documentary shows the player publicly expressing affection for Barcelona during media interviews, including an overseas vacation image that suggested loyalty to Barça. Yet, the film notes, his conversations with club officials and his eventual decision pointed toward Real Madrid. The narrative shows the trips that followed: a flight to Sardinia, where discussions with Veiga and Pérez intensified, and a subsequent trip to Lisbon that helped seal the plan. The move carried a hefty penalty clause, reported as 5,000 million pesetas, intended to deter a failed attempt. The film presents Pérez’s later claim that the clause was a mere motivational provision and that no definitive pre-contract existed, though Veiga and Pérez together reportedly ensured a clear statement of intent to guide the process.
In Sardinia, the transfer team is depicted as convincing Figo to board a plane home to Lisbon, where Pérez pressed for an agreement and a yes. Gaspart’s recorded recollection includes a final call from Portugal to Barcelona asking the club to guarantee substantial financial backing to retain Figo, a claim Gaspart disputes in the documentary. The film does not shy from portraying the aftermath in Barcelona, where supporters greeted Figo with vocal disapproval during subsequent visits to Camp Nou. Eventually, Figo did sign with Real Madrid, and Real Madrid later paid the termination clause to formalize the transfer.
The documentary closes by examining how Figo reflects on the decision in retrospect and how the transfer influenced the broader football ecosystem. It delves into the pre-signing discussions, the negotiation dynamics, and the implications for both clubs and the sport’s transfer market. The film presents a portrait of a pivotal moment in football history, inviting viewers to consider how loyalty, strategy, and timing can converge to redefine a career and reshape a league. The storytelling remains anchored in multiple viewpoints, offering a layered look at a transfer that still resonates in football culture today. [CITATION: The Figo Case documentary, Netflix release, directors Tryhorn and Nicholas; production by Pitch Productions]