Central-midfielder
Paul Pogba – Juventus to Manchester United (£89.30 million)
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Paul Pogba was destined for greatness ever since he made waves with the Manchester United youth sides. The former Le Havre graduate had arrived in England in 2009 in controversial circumstances and immediately made an impact with the club’s youth teams.
However, the lack of first team opportunities forced Pogba to leave the Theatre of Dreams for Juventus and it was in Turin that the player truly made a name for himself, winning titles and also being crowned the Golden Boy in 2013.
A return to Manchester United was always on the cards and he is well on his way to repaying the humongous fee United were forced to pay for him,
The 24-year-old had a tough start to the season with fans and pundits challenging his credentials as a world class player. However, the second half of the 2016-17 season has been much kinder to the Frenchman as he has established himself at the club and looks destined to be the midfield general of Mourinho’s army for several years to come.
Central attacking midfielder
Kevin De Bruyne – Wolfsburg to Manchester City (£55 million)
While clubs often look to nurture homegrown talent and promote them into their first team, there are several incidents of clubs letting go of their talent. Belgian Kevin de Bruyne’s story is an example of the same.
After impressing with Genk, the player was signed by London heavyweights Chelsea in January 2012. However, the move did not go as per the plan for the Belgian as he was shipped to Werder Bremen in the same year on loan.
With his chances at the club limited, de Bruyne decided it was time to move away from Stamford Bridge and was signed by Wolfsburg in the January transfer window of the 2013-14 season. The young attacking midfielder has since gone from strength to strength to establish himself as one of Belgium’s best players.
His exploits did not go unnoticed and Manchester United’s noisy neighbours snapped him up at the starting of the 2015-16 season for over £50 million. De Bruyne remains pivotal to City’s long-term plans under Pep Guardiola and could be the player around whom the Spanish manager builds his squad.
Right-wing
Gareth Bale – Tottenham Hotspur (£85 million)
The flurry of world-class talent Southampton has produced over the years has not gone unnoticed as any player who is currently with the club’s academy is monitored closely by several other clubs. While the likes of Adam Lallana and Theo Walcott have had a good career, there remains no doubt as to who their best youth product has been.
Gareth Bale is a name that is often talked about in the same breath as the likes of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Suarez and Neymar. The Welshman, who initially began his career as a left-back, destroyed oppositions while with Tottenham Hotspur and was instrumental in helping them qualify for Europe.
Bale, who secured a multi-million pound move to Real Madrid in the summer of 2013, has now established himself as one of the key members of the famed BBC attacking trio.
However, the rumours surrounding his future do not seem to be dying out with the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea keen on bringing him back to England. Could we see them break the bank to acquire the services of Bale?
Left-wing
Cristiano Ronaldo – Manchester United to Real Madrid (£80 million)
The riches of Real Madrid ensured the arrival of the Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo at the club.
Ronaldo, who began his footballing journey at Sporting Lisbon, moved to Manchester United in 2003 and spent six successful years at the club, winning several trophies in the process. He was a force to reckon with at Old Trafford and when linked with Real Madrid, it was believed to be a marriage made in heaven.
When he moved to Spain in 2009, it was for a world record transfer fee of £80 million and the player has proved that he is worth every penny. The Portuguese has won everything there is on offer in Spain and Europe and despite being 32 years of age, he does not seems keen on slowing down.
His performances continue to be the biggest talking point of every match day. While comparisons with Lionel Messi are inevitable, there remains no doubt about the fact that Ronaldo is one of the best players to have ever graced a football pitch.
