10. Hernan Crespo
Clubs: From Parma to Lazio in 2000
Transfer amount: 55 million euros
Winner of the UEFA Cup in 1999 against Marseille, Parma then sold its nuggets very well. Before Lilian Thuram, sold for 41 million euros to Juventus in 2001, the Italian club had made a huge move with the sale of Hernan Crespo. The Argentine striker, who scored 79 goals in 148 games for Parma, joined Lazio for a record amount, which has not been beaten for nine years.
9. Fernando Torres
Clubs: From Liverpool to Chelsea in 2010
Transfer amount: 58.5 million euros
This is the story of one of the biggest flaws in the Premier League. Landed in Chelsea after four successful years in Liverpool (81 goals in 142 games) for 58.5 million euros, Fernando Torres dragged his sentence at Stamford Bridge. So much so that we almost forget that he scored 45 goals in three seasons in the Blues’ jersey before joining AC Milan in 2014.
8. Radamel Falcao
Clubs: From Atlético Madrid to Monaco in 2013
Transfer amount: 60 million euros
To sign his arrival at the club presidency, Dmitri Rybolovlev offered Monaco a gigantic transfer window: 177 million euros spent in the summer of 2013, including 60 for Radamel Falcao alone. The Colombian shines for his debut in Ligue 1 with 9 goals scored during the first leg, but his rupture of a knee ligament against Chasselay in the Coupe de France in January 2014 ended his Monegasque adventure. Well, not exactly. Before joining Manchester United last summer, he had time to score 2 goals in 3 matches for the resumption of the championship.
7. Raheem Sterling
Clubs: From Liverpool to Manchester City in 2015
Transfer amount: € 62.5 million
The English market is limitless. Manchester City has just proven it. Liberated by financial fair play and with the upcoming jackpot on Premier League TV rights, the Citizens spent a record amount for Raheem Sterling, totally disconnected from the market price, even if the 20-year-old winger has a huge potential.
6. Edinson Cavani
Clubs: From Naples to PSG in 2013
Transfer amount: € 64.5 million
This is the biggest transfer to date in the history of Ligue 1. Edinson Cavani arrived in Paris in 2013, winning the record set by Monaco with Falcao a few weeks earlier. Two years later, the Uruguayan is still looking for his cruising speed in the French capital. El Matador is often relegated to a wing to make way for Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
5. Zlatan Ibrahimovic
Clubs: From Inter to Barcelona in 2009
Transfer amount: € 69.5 million
Executioner from Italy to Juventus and then to Inter, Ibra arrived in Barcelona in 2009 to replace Samuel Eto’o. Marriage is going badly. The profile of the Swede is not compatible with the style of play implemented by Pep Guardiola in Catalonia. Result: Ibrahimovic will only play 46 matches with the Blaugrana for 22 goals scored, before returning to Italy under the colors of AC Milan in the summer of 2010.
4. Luis Suarez
Clubs: From Liverpool to Barcelona in 2014
Transfer amount: 81 million euros
With Luis Suarez, Barcelona tried a bet. Suspended for four months after biting Giorgio Chiellini during the World Cup in Brazil, the Uruguayan joined in stride with the Catalan club. He played his first match in his new colors on October 25 against Real Madrid (1-3), where he illustrated himself with an assist for Neymar. The start of a prolific season with 16 goals and 14 assists in La Liga. Bet successful for Barça.
3. Neymar Junior
Clubs: From Santos to Barcelona in 2013
Transfer amount: 83.5 million euros
Difficult to know what really cost the transfer from Neymar to Barcelona. The Barcelona leaders first announced compensation of 57 million euros. The Spanish press then mentioned the figure of 95 million, before the courts stopped counting down to 83.5 million euros. The case could lead Sandro Rosell, former club president, and Josep Maria Bartomeu, who resigned before running for the election on Saturday, to prison.
2. Gareth Bale
Clubs: From Tottenham to Real Madrid in 2013
Transfer amount: 94 million euros
The figure of 100 million had been announced, which would have made Gareth Bale the most expensive transfer in football history. In reality, the Welshman grossed between 91 and 94 million euros to Tottenham. Like Cavani in Paris, he too is still trying to justify the price of his transfer to Merengue supporters. He has so far scored 28 goals and delivered 21 assists in La Liga in two seasons.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
Clubs: From Manchester United to Real Madrid in 2009
Transfer amount: 94 million euros The triple Ballon d’or and double still dominates the most expensive transfer ranking in history. Passed from Manchester United to Real for 94 million euros in 2009, Cristiano Ronaldo is the undisputed star of the merengue club. In six seasons, he has scored 225 goals in 200 La Liga matches, 62 goals in 63 Champions League games. In total, he scored 313 times in 300 games under the colors of Real. Enough to justify the price of his transfer.
