Real Madrid are one of the biggest (if not the biggest) clubs in world football and it is no surprise to see that the players in Real Madrid are paid very well. Filled with stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, Sergio Ramos and Luka Modric, the wage bill of Los Blancos is close to the entire transfer budget of some small clubs in Europe.
This season, the All Whites have struggled to hit the heights of last season, and some of these players might be moved on in the January transfer window to reduce the wage bill. Without much ado, let us take a look at the weekly wages of 17 Real Madrid first team stars:
#17 Dani Ceballos (Midfielder) - £20,000/week
Having made the move to Madrid this summer, Ceballos is one of the lowest paid first team stars in the Bernabeu. Still only 21, the young Spaniard has struggled to break into the ultra-competitive Real Madrid midfield.
Although Ceballos has not had enough opportunities to prove himself, there are already talks that the Spaniard will be up for sale in the January transfer window.
#16 Kiko Casilla (Goalkeeper) - £30,000/week
A Real Madrid youth product, 30-year-old Kiko Casilla found opportunities hard to come by initially at his boyhood club. After moving to Espanyol, Casilla established himself as one of the League’s premier shot-stoppers and earned himself a move back to Madrid. He is currently the second choice goalkeeper behind Costa Rican Keylor Navas.
#15 Lucas Vasquez (Winger) - £60,000/week
Another Real Madrid academy product, Lucas Vasquez was one of Zidane's most trusted players last season. Having made 50 appearances last season, the Spaniard has struggled to replicate some of last season's good form and has been mostly restricted to cameos off the bench. He is another name who has been linked with an exit from Santiago Bernabeu.
#14 Marco Asensio (Attacking Midfielder) - £75,000/week
One of Real Madrid's most talented young players, Marco Asensio played an important role in Real Madrid's stunning success in 2017. Capable of scoring some absolutely brilliant goals, Asensio is easily one of the most sought after youngsters in world football.
With the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea interested in the young Spaniard, Zidane and Perez will be keen to keep the influential playmaker for many seasons to come.
#13 Mateo Kovacic (Central Midfielder) - £75,000/week
The decision to play Mateo Kovacic ahead of Isco in the El Clasico drew a lot of criticism, but there is no denying the fact that the Croatian is one of the most complete midfielders in world football at the moment.
Capable of setting up attacks and breaking up play, Kovacic has been talked about as a long-term replacement for compatriot Luka Modric.
#12 Keylor Navas (Goalkeeper) - £85,000/week
Real Madrid shot-stopper Keylor Navas probably has the hardest job in the world. Despite always giving his best, there is always talk of replacing him with De Gea and Courtois continuously being linked with the Spanish giants.
The Costa Rican however, has not let the rumours affect him and has always put his best foot forward when called upon, making some heroic saves along the way.
#11 Dani Carvajal (Right-back) - £85,000/week
Dani Carvajal might not have been at his best in the recently concluded Clasico, but there is no denying the fact that the Spaniard is one of the best right-backs in world football at the moment.
Blessed with abundant pace, Carvajal is solid in defence and is a useful outlet on the right-hand side during an attack. The 25-year-old will be keen to make amends for his red card in the Clasico.
#10 Casemiro (Defensive Midfielder) - £90,000/week
One of the most important members of the Real Madrid squad, Casemiro has made the defensive midfielder position his own since Zidane took over. The steely Brazilian reads the game superbly and Madrid look like a completely different side whenever he is on the pitch.
Flying into tackles and providing an imposing presence in midfield, Casemiro's presence allows the likes of Kroos and Modric more freedom to join in Madrid's attacks.
#9 Raphael Varane (Centre-back) - £100,000/week
A defensive mainstay at Real Madrid this season, Varane is known for his pace and physicality. Still only 24, the Frenchman has the potential to become a truly world class player in the near future.
Calm and composed on the ball, Varane often partners captain Sergio Ramos at the heart of Madrid's defence. Having faced plenty of injury issues in the last two season, the Frenchman will be hoping for an injury-free season this time around.
#8 Isco (Attacking Midfielder) - £115,000/week
One of the standout performers last season, Isco has struggled to hit those heights in this campaign. Supremely talented and skilled on the ball, the Spanish playmaker has was rewarded for his good performances with a 12th place finish in the Ballon d'Or 2017 standings.
Having inexplicably been left on the bench for the Clasico, Isco will be determined to remind Zidane and the world of his prodigious talent in the coming weeks.
#7 Karim Benzema (Striker) - £150,000/week
Having let Alvaro Morata go this summer, Madrid were counting on Karim Benzema to step up his game and contribute goals to the team. However, the Frenchman has suffered an alarming dip in form and has even been booed by his own fans this season.
Although Benzema has never been the best of finishers, his linkup play is usually excellent. However, this season even that has let him down as he has looked jaded and woefully short of confidence.
Benzema will need to find his form soon or he might well be dropped to the bench by Zidane in the coming games.
#6 Luka Modric (Central Midfielder) - £180,000/week
While the Ronaldos, Bales and Iscos always grab all the attention at Real Madrid, Luka Modric is arguably their most valuable player. The 32-year-old has runs the midfield for the Spanish giants and he even grabbed the 5th place in the Ballon d'Or 2017 rankings for his brilliant performances.
Blessed with excellent passing skills and vision, Modric's through balls often cut the opposition defence and are the key to Madrid's attacking play.
#5 Toni Kroos (Central Midfielder) - £200,000/weeks
Probably Real Madrid's most consistent player last season, Toni Kroos has arguably taken his game to new heights ever since he made the move to Madrid from Bayern Munich. Calm, composed and always assured on the ball, Kroos is the conductor in the midfield who pulls the strings for the Spanish giants.
The 27-year-old has slightly gone off the boil in the last few weeks and that has been one of the major reasons for Real Madrid's indifferent form this season.
#4 Marcelo (Left-back) - £200,000/week
Having completed a decade as a Real Madrid player, Marcelo recently signed a new contract which upped his wages from £80,000/week to £200,000/week. One of the seniormost players in the Madrid squad, Marcelo is also one of the best-paid defenders in world football.
Still only 29, the Brazilian full-back will be determined to add more success to his trophy-laden spell at Real Madrid.
#3 Sergio Ramos (Centre-back) - £200,000/week
Real Madrid club captain Sergio Ramos is the third highest paid player in the expensively assembled Los Blancos squad. Having made a high profile move to Madrid in 2005, Ramos has quickly established himself as one of Madrid's most important players.
A man for the big occasion and an inspirational leader both on and off the pitch, Ramos certainly deserves his £200,000/week salary for his consistent performances at the heart of the Madrid defence.
#2 Gareth Bale (Right Winger) - £350,000/week
Gareth Bale is the second highest paid player in the Madrid squad and some fans might be feeling that the Welshman has struggled to justify his high wages. One of the best players in the world when fit, Bale has been heavily linked with a move to the Premier League.
With a move for Mohamed Salah being talked about and gaining traction in the rumour circles, it only looks like a matter of time before the Welshman's time comes to an end at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Bale at his best, can be devastating.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo (Left Winger) - £365,000/week
Was there ever any doubt as to who would head this list?
Cristiano Ronaldo is undoubtedly Real Madrid's biggest star and after winning his 5th Ballon d'Or this year, the Portuguese superstar even claimed that he is the greatest player in football history.
Stepping it up when it truly mattered the most last season, Ronaldo scored some stunning goals in the latter half of the Champions League and La Liga inspiring the All Whites to a truly glorious double last season.
While he has started this season slowly in La Liga, the Portuguese superstar has scored goals for fun in the Champions League. Ronaldo was also instrumental in Madrid's Club World Cup triumph and it will be interesting to see how he fares in the coming months for Zidane's team.
Ronaldo is arguably the greatest football player in Real Madrid's history.