'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
When it comes to transfer business in football, no one does it quite like Real Madrid. The Spanish giants have a history of record buys, splashing millions and millions in acquiring the very best talents in the circuit.
But in more recent years, they've turned into a successful 'seller club', selling some of their own big names for hefty sums.
Raphael Varane has become the latest player to exit Santiago Bernabeu after Manchester United signed the star for €50 million.
But where does he rank among the list of the most expensive Real Madrid sales? Here are the top five:
#5 Mesut Ozil - €50 million (Arsenal)
Jose Mourinho has transformed several young talents into world-beaters and Mesut Ozil is one of them, signing him at Real Madrid after the German's heroic performances at the 2010 World Cup.
Trending
The midfielder was still an unknown entity, but turned into a highly sought-after player in the next three years, his creative brilliance helping the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Gonzalo Higuain to plenty of goals.
However, after scoring 27 times and making 80 assists in 159 games, Ozil left for Arsenal in 2013 for a mammoth €50 million, making him the most expensive German player of all-time.
His departure wasn't met with good reactions from the Bernabeu faithful, while Ronaldo even revealed he was 'angry' about Ozil leaving as the duo had forged a terrific attacking partnership.
#4 Raphael Varane - €50 million (Manchester United)
Raphael Varane has become the latest player to walk the well-trodden path between Real Madrid and Manchester United after finalizing his move to Old Trafford earlier this month.
The Frenchman joins legendary names like Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Michael Owen, etc, to grace both the fabled blanco colors as well as the furious red of Manchester.
Arriving in the Spanish capital as a promising 18-year-old talent, Varane went from strength to strength and became one of the best centre-backs in the business.
He's been at the heart of all of Real Madrid's success over the last decade, though his performances have visibly declined for the last two seasons or so, with mistakes often cropping up in his game.
Yet, the club has managed to extract €50 million from his sale to United.
#3 Angel Di Maria - €70 million (Manchester United)
Another world-class signing during the Jose Mourinho-era, Angel Di Maria arrived from Benfica in 2010 as an up-and-coming 22-year-old, but quickly established himself among the Real Madrid ranks.
He too, like Ozil, came to be known for creating plenty of scoring opportunities, both from open play and set-pieces too, whilst also being the driving force behind the La Decima success in 2014.
Yet the Argentine ace was sold to Manchester United for a then-British transfer record following that year's World Cup, as Los Blancos bought in new recruits Toni Kroos and James Rodriguez.
His sale was widely criticized as disrespectful towards Di Maria, who contributed 36 goals and 85 assists in 190 games across four years, helping them to six titles.
#2 Alvaro Morata - €70.3 million (Chelsea)
Another expensive Real Madrid sale to Chelsea.
Unlike most players on this list, Alvaro Morata was a Real Madrid graduate who made his name at the Santiago Bernabeu itself.
Although his chances were limited, coming on mostly as an impact substitute, the Spaniard managed 31 goals and 11 assists from 95 games across two different spells.
However, fearing that his development could stall, Morata joined the Blues in 2017, with Los Blancos somehow extracting a frankly exorbitant €70 million from his sale.
To rub salt on Chelsea's wounds, the striker turned out to be a damp squib (besides the opening three months where he was in good form), as the London outfit were forced to dip their feet into the transfer market for another goalscorer again soon after.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo - €100 million (Juventus)
Cristiano Ronaldo joined Real Madrid in 2009 as the then-most expensive player in history, before leaving the Spanish capital for Juventus nine years later for their most expensive departure.
Not all players boast such a record, but not all players are Ronaldo, who defined an era at the club; establishing himself as arguably their greatest ever.
He scored 450 goals, made 132 assists, lifted 15 titles and broke countless records during his time as a Galactico before seeking newer challenges in Serie A three years ago.
What's more astonishing is that Real Madrid earned €100 million from his sales despite the Portuguese being 33 years old at the time, making the transfer the highest ever for a player over 30.
