"The five most expensive football transfers"
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| Most expensive football transfers of all time |
As another fish market-esque transfer window approaches and the big teams with big bucks are ready to make the big news, one is forced to ask the obvious question as to whether all the cash splashed actually translates into on-field success. Are these millions, mirky and mendacious or honest and lucid? We attempt to answer this question by analysing the 5 most expensive transfers in football history. The likes of Real Madrid, Chelsea and Barcelona spend vaults and vaults of cash to ensure that their brand name is ever glitzy and we'd like to know whether it's actually happening or are these clubs living in a fool's paradise.
Número uno
| Player | Season | Selling Club | Buying Club | Transfer fee |
| Cristiano Ronaldo | 2009/2010 | Manchester United | Real Madrid | £80 million |
Cristiano Ronaldo made the world headlines with his record transfer from Manchester United to Real Madrid in the summer of 2009 and has since worked tirelessly to needle his babbling critics who gaped at his magnificent price tag.
| Games Played | Goals Scored | Assists | Goals per Game | Assists per Game |
| 89 | 86 | 22 | 0.9662 | 0.2471 |
The Portuguese star has scored 86 Goals in his 89 Appearances for Real Madrid at just about a goal every game. He also broke the record for most goals scored in a single La Liga campaign previously held by Athletic Bilbao’s Telmo Zarra and Madrid legend·Hugo Sánchez (38 Goals). Although Ronaldo has been breaking Goal scoring records left, right and centre, Real have only managed to win only the Copa del Rey in the time Ronaldo has dazzled the Santiago Bernabeu with his skill and flamboyance. They have been constantly overwhelmed by eternal rivals Barcelona in the league as well as the UEFA Champions League.
The Galacticos are completely dependent on the Portuguese maverick to bang in the goals which has come down to haunt them whenever the player is missing due to injury, suspension or more recently punishment.
Even though Ronaldo's goal scoring exploits are unparalled it is fair to say that the bucket loads of cash dumped at Old Trafford for his highness' services haven't paid dividends in terms of tangible weird looking gold and silver jewels (trophies!) for those in Madrid.
El número dos
| Player | Season | Selling Club | Buying Club | Transfer fee |
| Zlatan Ibhrahimovic | 2009/10 | Internazionale | Barcelona | £56.5* million |
Zlatan’ transfer from Inter to Barca involved Samuel Eto’o going in the opposite direction and was the world’s most expensive transfer for a few days before Ronaldo’s transfer later stole the spotlight.
| Games Played | Goals Scored | Assists | Goals per Game | Assists per Game |
| 42 | 22 | 9 | 0.5238 | 0.2142 |
Zlatan made 42 Appearances for the Catalan giants scoring 22 Goals, a goal every two Games. Unlike Ronaldo who had been on the score sheet in almost every match, the Swede struggled to get his bearings right both on the field and off it.
Barcelona on the other hand had a good Season winning La Liga, UEFA & Spanish Super Cups and reaching the Champions League Semi-finals with little contribution made by Ibra and by the end of the season his relationship with Guardiola deteriorated to such an extent that he was put up for sale. Ibra has been rated as one of the game’s most technically gifted players without the greatest head on him. He has commented on his uncomfortable stay in Barcelona on numerous occasions, which is an attitude frowned upon in football.
Zlatan’ transfer represents one of world’s most expensive flop deals, something that has now become a recurring phenomenon with the rich clubs.
Número tres
| Player | Season | Selling Club | Buying Club | Transfer fee |
| Kaká | 2009/10 | AC Milan | Real Madrid | £55 million |
Kaká’s transfer to Madrid got the world dreaming of the impact it would have on Spanish football with Ronaldo to partner him, but the dreamers were soon yanked from lala land as the Brazilian spent most of his two seasons side-lined due to injury. Talks of him being offloaded have already begun at the Bernabeu and clubs willing to spend more millions on him are rumoured to include Chelsea, former club AC Milan and (oh how can one forget) Mogul owned Manchester City!
| Games Played | Goals Scored | Assists | Goals per Game | Assists per Game |
| 53 | 16 | 13 | 0.3018 | 0.2452 |
In his two disappointing seasons with the Galacitos, Kaká played 53 Games scoring 16 Goals and creating 13. Real Madrid managed to win the Copa Del Rey in this period which is quite disappointing considering the amounts of cash spent in the last two seasons.
Kaká joins the ranks of other Brazilians like Robinho who have failed to live up to their hefty price tag in Spain.
El número cuatro
| Player | Season | Selling Club | Buying Club | Transfer fee |
| Fernando Torres | 2010/11 | Liverpool | Chelsea | £50 million |
Fernando Torres’ transfer was the English’s leagues most expensive transfer ever. It gave hope to Chelsea fans around the world who were almost on the verge of tears as they watched their team surrender the title to Manchester United with their horrendous run of form. With the added quality one expected The Blues to take Europe by storm but Torres' arrival led to an almost antonymous reaction.
| Games Played | Goals Scored | Goals per Game |
| 18 | 1 | 0.055556 |
Torres has managed just one Goal in his 18 Appearances for the Blues, and his form could be described as atrocious by any striker’s standards. In Torres’ defence it could be said that he needs time to adjust to Chelsea’s style of play but for the amount of money that has been paid to acquire his services his form is hopelessly disappointing and fans and club owners deserve a lot more.
Although Torres has only been with the Blues for half-a-season he did not make any impact for Chelsea who ended their campaign trophy-less. Manager Carlo Ancelotti was forced to take the fall for Chelsea's demise but for anyone with a decent enough football eye it would have been clear that pressure from the top forced the Italian to play Torres on a regular basis which made Chelsea as sharp as a round pebble upfront. The Blues are rumoured to be looking for a player to help Torres get his goal scoring touch back, which is like buying chocolate sauce to sweeten a chocolate doughnut.
El número cinco
| Player | Season | Selling Club | Buying Club | Transfer fee |
| Zinedine Zidane | 2001/02 | Juventus | Real Madrid | £45.7 million |
Zizou’ was so confident of succeeding at Madrid that after turning into a Galatico he said that Real Madrid was a club he deserved to play for and the Frenchman more than lived up to the transfer fee. It was the most expensive football transfer at the time and remained so for eight years.
| Games Played | Goals Scored | Goals per Game |
| 225 | 49 | 0.2177 |
In his five seasons with Real Madrid, Zizou made 225 Appearances scoring 49 Goals which included the spectacular volley hit with his weaker foot in the UEFA Champions League finals win against Bayer Leverkusen in 2001/02 (2-1).
Zizou’ time with Madrid was also a golden period for the Galacitos, as they won the La Liga in 2002/03, UEFA Champions League in 2001/02, UEFA Super Cup in 2002, Spanish Super Cup in 2001 & 2003 as well as the Intercontinental Cup in 2002, a total of 6 trophies.
Of the five most expensive football transfers ever only one seems to have led to trophy oozing cabinets, the one that involved one of the greatest midfielders ever. But then again the other four transfers haven’t spent a long time with their new clubs and making judgments yet could be premature. For the sake of the fans and the club owners one hopes that these players live up to the price tag they carry and make an impact on the pitch helping their trohpy hungry teams boogie on the field.
