Club career:
Internazionale:
Figo left Real Madrid to join Internazionale in the summer of 2005 on a free transfer after his contract with Real Madrid had expired. This meant that Figo would finally be able to play for a club in Italy,
something he had the chance to do before his move to Barcelona, but was
scuppered due to a dispute between the two clubs interested, Juventus
and Parma. During the summer of 2008, Figo's compatriot José Mourinho
joined Inter on a managerial level. This has been said to please Figo,
as he would have several Portuguese teammates during the remainder of
his stay at Inter. On 16 May 2009, Figo announced his retirement from
football, the same day Internazionale won the 2008–09 title, and re-confirmed this on 30 May; his final game was on 31 May against Atalanta at the San Siro. At Javier Zanetti's
insistence, Figo captained the side for his very last match. He
received a standing ovation from the crowd as he was substituted by Davide Santon. The freekick he scored in extra time against Roma during the Supercoppa Italiana was undisputedly his most memorable part of his time in Italy.
Figo said, "I am leaving football, not Inter." He was interviewed by
Inter Channel after his last game against Atalanta and also said, "I
hope to be able to help this club to become even greater also after my
retirement. I will certainly work for Inter in the future in the club
board. I never imagined that I was going to remain here for such a long
time. What I will never forget is the love that I have received since my
first day here from my teammates and president Massimo Moratti. I will never forget it; Inter have given me the chance to start a winning cycle with some extraordinary people.Luis Figo was on the sidelines when Internazionale Milano won the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League on 22 May 2010.
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