Sol Campbell has poked fun at his infamous switch from rivals Tottenham and Arsenal during a recent TV advert.
Campbell made the switch between the North London clubs in 2001 under the Bosman ruling after his Tottenham contract expired in what was one of the most shocking switches in football.
The central defender had publicly claimed he would stay at Tottenham, before making the move across north London, leading to him being branded a ‘Judas’ by fans of his former club.
Spurs fans have never truly forgotten the manner in which Campbell left Spurs and now, the defender has done his best to remind them about his unceremonious exit.
In an advert for Google’s Pixel phones, Campbell said: ‘It’s that time of year again. A time when people start to wonder if the grass might be greener.
‘Whether they should switch sides and changes allegiances. Take it from me, big moves pay off.
Sol Campbell has poked fun at his infamous switch from rivals Tottenham and Arsenal
Campbell made the switch between the North London clubs in 2001 under the Bosman ruling
The central defender had claimed he would stay at Tottenham, before making the shock move
‘Sure, people will have opinions but who cares what people think. Of course you can stay with them another year but is anything really going to change?
‘Doesn’t look like it to me. So if you’re thinking about transferring this January, I say go for it! It’s not like you’re doing anything outrageous.
‘You’re just switching to something much, much better… the Google Pixel!’
Back in 2001, the defender had publicly claimed he would stay at Tottenham, before making the move across north London, leading to him being branded a ‘Judas’ by fans of his former club.
Campbell’s free transfer is considered one of the most controversial in football, with the then 26-year-old defender receiving interest from across Europe being making the switch to Highbury.
Arsenal had kept the deal under wraps, with the reporters present at his unveiling having expected to see goalkeeper Richard Wright announced from Everton, before Campbell emerged for the press conference.
Campbell said he had been subjected to an ‘inferno of hatred’ on his first return to White Hart Lane as an Arsenal player in 2001.
In an advert for Google’s Pixel phones, Campbell urged fans to ‘change allegiances’
Campbell said he had been subjected to an ‘inferno of hatred’ on his return to White Hart Lane
Campbell later admitted the continuing abuse, long after his retirement from player in 2011, has impacted him.
‘We are talking about nearly a quarter of a century [since the transfer], he said in a previous interview. ‘Where are we going as human beings if someone cannot move on?
‘I don’t think people realise how hurtful the hate and vitriol is to me. I get the situation but it’s been such a long time.’
Campbell has previously apologised to Tottenham fans for the nature of the move, but admitted he had no regrets at the switch after a successful first spell at Arsenal.
