Ranking the 5 biggest sales in Barcelona history

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#3 Luis Figo - €60 million (Real Madrid)

Figo was a Barcelona legend before replicating his success at Real Madrid

Barcelona's most expensive European sale of the century was also the last player to directly join El Clasico rivals Real Madrid from Camp Nou.

Luis Figo was a monster back in his day. A midfielder by trade, the Portuguese star was crucial to creating goalscoring opportunities and still holds the record for the most assists in La Liga history after only Lionel Messi.

15 years ago today—Luis Figo, El Clasico and the famous pig’s head 🐷 pic.twitter.com/G8serg6BtK

— B/R Football (@brfootball) November 23, 2017

After five highly successful years at the Camp Nou, during which he lifted seven trophies, Figo caused a stir by joining Real Madrid in 2000, which made him the public enemy number one in this part of Spain.

The fact that he was thrown a pig's head on his return to Camp Nou a few months later for the El Clasico should tell you everything about it.

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#2 Arthur Melo - €72 million (Juventus)

Arthur's sale managed to generate a hefty sum of money despite the Brazilian never really impressing

Barcelona have bought a few promising young players from South America before. However, despite never living up to the hype, although no one generated as much profit as Arthur Melo.

The midfielder played only a bit part role for two years in Catalonia, starting just 31 league games, and impressing occasionally.

On this day one year ago, Juventus announced the signing of Arthur Melo from Barcelona for €72m + €10m. The deal was also coordinated with a swap of Miralem Pjanić. pic.twitter.com/w2QlxnGiso

— Khaled Al Nouss (@khaledalnouss1) June 28, 2021

Yet, Blaugrana extracted €72 million from his sale to Juventus last year, with Miralem Pjanic going the opposite way in a swap deal.

One year on, it's safe to say neither side have got what they were looking for (at least so far), with Arthur and Pjanic both seeing off mediocre first campaigns in their respective new surroundings.

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#1 Neymar - €222 million

Neymar was in the form of his life at Barcelona

Barcelona's most expensive sale is also the most expensive transfer in football history.

Neymar came to Barcelona without prior experience in European football but took to his surroundings like a fish to water. The Brazilian forged arguably the most fearsome attacking partnership with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.

The transfer that made every other deal look small.On this day in 2017, Neymar joined PSG for €222 million 💸 pic.twitter.com/4SWq5WC8rg

— B/R Football (@brfootball) August 3, 2019

Over four glorious years, the Brazilian scored 105 goals and made 76 assists, winning eight titles in the process, including the memorable 2015 treble.

Paris Saint-Germain, curious to bolster their own Champions League ambitions, saw Neymar as a possible missing piece of their puzzle and forked out a record €222 million for his services in 2017.

It's an amount that isn't likely to be surpassed any time soon.