6. Javier Saviola (River Plate 2001/2002) – €35.9 million
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Before Lionel Messi, there was already a ‘New Maradona’ at Barcelona. Yes, that was Javier Saviola, and he sure looked the part. He made his first-team debut for River Plate at the tender age of 16, scoring 6 goals in 19 matches. As his skill was in no doubt, he was given a bigger role in the following (1999/2000) season as he hit 19 goals in 33 games to fire River Plate to the 1999 Apertura and 2000 Clasura titles in the top tier of Argentinian football.
The following season, he went one better in every department, scoring 20 goals in 34 matches. It earned him the Golden Boot award at 18, younger than the great Diego Maradona was when he won it – immediately raising his stock!
Barcelona wasted no time in signing him up to become the younger version of the man they had once employed. His first season was no disappointment as he scored 21 goals in all competitions to mark an exciting debut – Saviola was still just 19 years old.
The following year, his output suffered in the league as tumultuous upheaval shook Camp Nou, but he upped his European strike-rate to compensate, scoring 7 in Europe to finish with 20 goals for the season. Despite new manager Frank Rijkaard not being a major fan of his, the Argentinian youngster’s talent was irrepressible, and he hit 19 in 45 matches before being shunted out on loan to Monaco.
There, his star dimmed a bit as he could hit 11 in the entire league season before he was again sent off to Sevilla where he hit 15 in 42 matches. He spent his last season back working hard to replace his injured teammates and impress the hierarchy but after 120 games and roughly 50 goals, Javier Saviola was released.
