5 record-breaking football transfers of all-time

The summer of 2022 saw football clubs breaking the bank and going for their favourite players. If Manchester City got the likes of Erling Haaland and Julian Alvarez, then Barcelona pulled every possible lever to get Robert Lewandowski, Raphinha, Jules Kounde and a bunch of other guys.

Well, this is not a new thing. During the 2009-10 season, current UEFA Champions League winners Real Madrid had the most epic football transfer season of all time. Los Blancos went all guns blazing in the transfer market that summer. They pillaged eight players away to Santiago Bernabeu, including some really high-profile ones, with net expenditure amounting to a staggering €261 million!

The players they bought included Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, Raul Albiol, Xabi Alonso, and Karim Benzema, among others. Although the club bought this bunch of players, they couldn’t click as a team. The team managed to reach the Round of 16 stage in the Champions League but got eliminated by Lyon. Also, their fiercest rivals, Barcelona, managed to pip them in La Liga. 

Thus proving that sometimes money is not enough to win. That is the sad truth in today’s world.

Like the record-breaking transfer of Real Madrid in 2009, there have been times when football clubs have broken the bank to buy their favourite players.

In this article, we will be having a look at the 5 record-breaking transfers of all time that broke the Internet.

 

→ Neymar Jr. (Barcelona to PSG)

This was on the expected lines. The Brazilian sensation Neymar Jr. set the streets in Barcelona on fire with his dribbling and goal-scoring abilities. The trio of Messi-Suarez-Neymar were the reason for sleepless nights for a lot of European teams.

So, when the French club Paris St. Germain decided to rebuild their team, they went all the way to get the Brazilian player. During the 2017 summer, the Brazilian left Camp Nou for PSG in a move worth €222m (£200m), ending an impressive four-year stay with Barcelona. 

This is the biggest transfer ever to happen in the footballing world.

 

→ Kylian Mbappe (AS Monaco to PSG)

The wonder kid from France who set the 2018 World Cup stage on fire with his skills managed to follow in the footsteps of Neymar Jr. by joining PSG. PSG paid Monaco €180m when they bought Kylian Mbappe from their Ligue 1 rivals in 2018 after an initial loan spell.

Taking the concept of making a loan switch permanent to new extremes, PSG made Mbappe the most expensive European player of all time in the summer of 2018.

→ Phillippe Coutinho ( Liverpool to Barcelona)

Spanish giants Barcelona have made some disastrous buys in the recent past that have impacted the club in a very negative way. In the January transfer window of 2018, Barcelona purchased Phillippe Coutinho from Liverpool for a reported fee worth €160m.

However, as time progressed, the midfielder didn’t quite justify his price. Hence, he was sent on a loan to the English club Aston Villa. However, as the English club was impressed by their newest loanee, they decided to buy Coutinho for a fee of €20 million. Barcelona decided to add a sell-on clause of 50% for any future transfer of Phillippe Coutinho.

→ Ousmane Dembele (Borussia Dortmund to Barcelona)

You get it why Barcelona are in shambles right now? The club bought a few players at an astonishing price who didn’t quite justify their price tag. Ousmane Dembele was one among them.

The French footballer was a part of the German football team Borussia Dortmund. He was creating quite the noise with his pitch-perfect football skills. Dembele, 25, joined Barcelona in 2017 from Borussia Dortmund for a fee of €140 million ($165 million). It is one of the biggest transfer fees in football history.

However, it is not a successful one. During his stint with Barcelona, the winger was marred with injuries and spent half of his time on the bench. 

→ Eden Hazard (Chelsea to Real Madrid)

Real Madrid is known for going all the way for the players they want. The recent controversy surrounding Kylian Mbappe is a prime example of that. 

During the 2019 summer, Chelsea star Eden Hazard made a shocking move to Real Madrid in a transfer worth €100 million (£88m/$112m). It was reported the deal was worth €140m (£124m/$146m) with all the incentives.

As was the case with Barcelona superstar Ousmane Dembele, Eden Hazard, too, spent a lot of time in the hospital dealing with injuries. 

Other notable mentions:

 

Player Name Former Club Club that bought him Year of the transfer Transfer Fee
Joao Felix Benfica Atletico Madrid 2019 €126m
Antoine Griezmann Atletico Madrid Barcelona 2019 €120m
Jack Grealish Aston Villa Manchester City 2021 €117m
Romelu Lukaku Inter Milan Chelsea 2021 €115m
Paul Pogba Juventus Manchester United 2016 €105m
Gareth Bale Tottenham Spurs Real Madrid 2013 €100.8m
Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid Juventus  2018 €100m
Antony Ajax FC Manchester United 2022 €95m (+€5m)
Cristiano Ronaldo Manchester United Real Madrid 2009 €94m

                                                                                                                                            (stats provided by Goal.com) 

Woah, a lot of money was splurged on buying the footballers. The number is going to shoot up as the years go by. 

Who do you think will be the next “superstar” who will become the most expensive signing eclipsing Neymar’s price tag? Drop the names in the comment section.

Mbappé Scores in Champions League Debut for Real Madrid

Mbappé Scores in Champions League Debut for Real Madrid

Kylian Mbappé, the French football sensation, has reignited his pursuit of a European title with a goal in his Champions League debut for Real Madrid. The 24-year-old forward found the net just seconds into the second half of Madrid’s 3-1 victory over Stuttgart at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium.

Mbappé’s goal, which came after a cross from Rodrygo, gave the defending champions an early lead. However, Stuttgart equalized through Deniz Undav in the 68th minute. Antonio Rüdiger restored Madrid’s advantage in the 83rd minute, and substitute Endrick sealed the victory deep into stoppage time.

Mbappé’s goal was his 49th in the Champions League, placing him among the top 10 all-time scorers in the competition. It was also his third goal in three consecutive matches and his fifth in seven games for Madrid in all competitions.

“I can do more,” Mbappé said after the match. “I’m feeling better match after match.”

Madrid goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois was named the man of the match for his crucial saves that prevented Stuttgart from capitalizing on their scoring opportunities.

Mbappé had been relatively quiet before scoring, with his best chance coming in the 25th minute when his low shot was saved. He was also free inside the area a few minutes later, but Federico Valverde’s cross was intercepted.

Madrid struggled to create clear-cut chances early on, with Stuttgart posing the greater threat. The German side had several one-on-one situations and even hit the crossbar. Vinícius Júnior also hit the crossbar for Madrid.

Mbappé, who won the 2018 World Cup with France, failed to win the Champions League during his seven seasons with Paris Saint-Germain. He joined Madrid as a free agent at the end of last season, hoping to boost his chances of lifting the European trophy with the team that has won the competition six times in the last 11 years.

Mbappé reached the semifinals of the Champions League with Monaco in 2017 and was a beaten finalist with PSG in 2020. He was also in the semifinals with PSG in 2021 and last season.

US Open Tournament Director Tackles Scheduling Conflicts and Fan Engagement

US Open Tournament Director Tackles Scheduling Conflicts and Fan Engagement

US Open Tournament Director Addresses Scheduling Conflicts and Fan Engagement

US Open tournament director Stacey Allaster, the first woman to hold this position at any Grand Slam event, recently joined the Served Podcast to discuss one of the sport’s most pressing concerns: scheduling conflicts.

Allaster acknowledged the challenges of managing the flow of spectators in and out of Arthur Ashe Stadium, especially during late-night matches. She emphasized that starting matches earlier on Ashe is not feasible due to ESPN’s broadcast schedule. Additionally, she ruled out reducing men’s matches to best-of-three sets, as players prefer to avoid interruptions and potential injuries.

Unlike Wimbledon, which has strict curfew laws, Allaster dismissed the idea of implementing a similar policy at the US Open. She explained that players are eager to compete and would rather not be forced to postpone matches.

Roddick, a former US Open champion, agreed with Allaster’s assessment. He highlighted the unpredictable nature of tennis matches and the need for players to be prepared to take the court at short notice. He also emphasized the importance of recovery time for players, especially when facing back-to-back matches.

Allaster acknowledged that even if matches were started earlier, there would still be gaps in the schedule on Ashe. She also discussed the competition for viewership with other major sporting events, such as the NFL and college football.

Despite these challenges, the US Open has enjoyed record-breaking attendance in recent years. Allaster attributed this success to the variety of personalities and storylines in tennis, as well as the tournament’s status as a major social event in New York City.

She also highlighted the growth in tennis participation during the COVID-19 pandemic, suggesting that new fans may be contributing to the US Open’s success. Allaster emphasized the importance of inspiring a love for tennis and encouraging more people to pick up a racket.

Roddick noted that the US Open attracts more spectators in three weeks than MLB teams do in an entire year. He credited Fan Week, which allows fans to watch world-class players practice for free, as a major factor in the tournament’s popularity.

Allaster expressed her commitment to improving the US Open experience for both players and fans. She acknowledged the need to address scheduling conflicts and is open to suggestions for solutions.

Barcelona Star Lamine Yamal's Father Stabbed in Mataro

‘Irrefutable Salary’ offered to lure sensational spaniard away from Barca

Turning just 17 during the European championship, Lamine Yamal has made everyone take notice as he emerged as one of the most talented players the football world has seen.

Considered as the heir to the throne of Lionel Messi in the club,  the club wants to ensure the continuity of the great prodigy and wants to make renewal of the teenager’s contract one of the priority before the end of the year.

But it’s not just that Barca wants to keep the young talent in their team. Manchester city, Manchester united and Chelsea have been contending for the youngster and have offered an Irrefutable Salary.

Paris Saint-Germain made a bold move by bidding a staggering €250M for Yamal which Barcelona have boldly ward off.

Yamal has had a dream start under Flick as he contributed 3 goals and 4 assists for Barcelona as the team maintains a record of 100% in their first five La Liga games this season.

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