FIGO READY FOR CAMP NOU RETURN
Figo left Barcelona in the summer for an amazing £37 million in what was widely seen as political maneuvering by the Real hierarchy following their presidential election.
Florentin Perez, who had promised the Bernabeu faithful that he would sign Figo beat former president Lorenzo Sanz in the elections in July and Figo was signed just a week after Perez was installed as president.
The Portuguese international has been promised a hot reception in Camp Nou but he is not the only one as Real look to win in Camp Nou for the first time since 1983.
Barca fans have prepared banners indicating their feeling that Figo is a money-grabber and a traitor whilst they also plan to whistle him at every opportunity.
The player has been affected by the run-up to the game, claiming that he is made out to be an 'assassin', although he is fairly relaxed about the game.
Figo said: "It is logical that that they will not like me. But everything is developed by the sports television.
"When this happens, we lament and say that it will not happen again, but to really make sure it does not happen they must take action against the people who issue the orders.
"There are people, who for their own interests, ferment the violence in football."
However, there are four other players that will suffer the same kind of treatment, either in Madrid or Barcelona.
Real fans have never forgiven Luis Enrique for leaving them for Barca in 1996 and he too gets the whistle treatment whenever he returns to his former club.
Having been out for most of last season through injury that forced him to miss Euro 2000, Luis Enrique has yet to hit the heights of his form, although the 6-0 drubbing of Real Sociedad in their last league game saw him turn in a great performance.
Albert Celades left Barca as he was forced out by Louis van Gaal's Dutch revolution and after a spell at Celta Vigo he is now at Real and will be looking for his more recognisable team-mate to keep the pressure off him.
Barca's Dani was a reserve striker at Real and will be keen to get off the bench to put one over on a team that never really gave him an opportunity.
Alfonso is likely to be given a better chance to do this, born in Madrid he was a youth team player for Real before progressing to the first team.
After five years he moved onto Real Betis but when the Seville club were relegated he jumped ship to Barcelona to be re-united with Llorenc Serra Ferrer, his old mentor at Betis.
He said: "If there are 100,000 people whistling at one particular player I honestly don't know how it must affect you.
"But you know the responsibility you have for the club you're playing for and you just try to concentrate on that. I play for Barcelona now."
Figo has attempted to keep a dignified silence but in response to being asked which team he considered his own, he said: "I am here. I feel well and I have the support of my team-mates. Me? I am Portuguese."
