10 highest spending clubs in the 21st century

#6 Manchester United - €2.025 billion

Manchester United have spent big in the last two decades.

Manchester United have been one of the top spenders in the last two decades. The Premier League giants are one of six teams to have spent over €2 billion on incomings this century.

United have made several big transfers since the turn of the century, but not all of them can be termed as successful. At the top of the pile is Paul Pogba, whom United re-acquired from Juventus in 2016 by splurging €105 million.

However, the Frenchman has been a bit of a mixed bag during his stint at Old Trafford. The same also goes for captain Harry Maguire (€87 million), whom United bought from Leicester City two years ago, and Romelu Lukaku (€84.7 million, 2017-18). Meanwhile, Angel Di Maria (€64 million) only lasted one season at the club.

Nevertheless, it hasn't always been doom and gloom for United in the transfer market. Rio Ferdinand (€46 million, 2002-03) and Bruno Fernandes (€63 million, 2020) have been money well spent.

This summer, United splurged again, dishing out €85 million for Jadon Sancho and €40 million. It remains to be seen whether the duo, along with the returning Cristiano Ronaldo, can return the club to their halcyon days.

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#5 Juventus - €2.079 billion

Juventus have spent a lot in the last two decades.

Deposed Serie A champions Juventus have made a lot of big signings in the last two decades.

In fact, four of their top transfers happened in the last five years. The record Serie A winners splurged €90 million in 2016 to land 36-goal Capocannoniere winner Gonzalo Higuain.

Only two years later, Juventus entered the €100 club, dishing out €117 million to land a certain Cristiano Ronaldo. A year later, the Bianconeri splurged €90 million to sign Dutch sensation Matthijs de Ligt, who has become a mainstay in their defense. All these signings helped Juventus extend their Serie A domination to almost a decade, but the Champions League remained elusive.

Almost two decades earlier, almost at the turn of the century, Juventus signed Gianluigi Buffon (€52,8 million, 2001-02), and the rest, as they say, is history. Other top Bianconeri signings this century include Pavel Nedved (€45 million, 2001-02), Paulo Dybala (€40 million, 2015-16) and Leonardo Boncucci (€35 million, 2018-19).

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#4 Barcelona - €2.181 billion

Barcelona are in turmoil, both and off the field.

Barcelona are one of the top clubs in Spain and Europe, winning multiple La Liga and Champions League titles, including two continental trebles.

However, they have been far from judicious spenders in the transfer market. They have had incomings worth more than €2 billion in the last two decades. But most of these players were brought in for far more than their market value, and a few of the transfers made little sense from a tactical and long-term perspective.

Barcelona spent €135 million apiece on Philippe Coutinho and Ousmane Dembele. Both players, however, are not first-team regulars, and have largely been underwhelming at Camp Nou.

Antoine Griezmann (€120 million) lasted only two years at the club before he was sent back on loan to Atletico Madrid this summer. Similarly, Barcelona splurged €69.5 million on Zlatan Ibrahimovic (2009), only to let him go after a year.

However, Neymar (€88 million, 2013), Luis Suarez (€81.7 million, 2014). Dani Alves (€35.5 million, 2008) and Ronaldinho (€32.25 million, 2003) have been roaring successes. Manager Xavi will need more such signings to arrest Barcelona's alarming slide in fortunes.