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Real Madrid have never been afraid to spend big on transfersReal Madrid is one of the most popular clubs in the world and are well-known for breaking transfer records. They are a team who aere not afraid of spending big bucks and don't appear to be ready to stop anytime soon. Real Madrid club president Florentina Perez is not afraid to splash the cash and has proved it by making marquee signings such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, Kaka and Ronaldo Lima during his reign at the club. The club even broke the record by fielding the most expensive line-up in history for their clash against Sevilla in UEFA Super Cup 2014. Former Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti fielded £382 million worth of talent on the night.Transfer fees are highly questionable and often undisclosed. Lining up Real Madrid’s most expensive all-time eleven can be tricky taking factors such as transfer fees after bonuses and inflation into consideration. But let’s have a look at the most expensive players Real Madrid have signed over the years, lining up in a 3-4-3 formation regardless of the factors mentioned and solely on their price tag.
#1 Goalkeeper
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Keylor Navas – £8m from Levante
The Costa Rican is shockingly the most expensive goalkeeper to have signed for Real Madrid. The 29-year-old starred for his country at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and joined Real Madrid from Spanish side Levante for a reported fee of £7.9 million.
The Spanish giants were lucky to receive the loyal service of former captain Iker Casillas for more than a decade. Casillas had come through the youth ranks at the Bernabeu and remained Madrid’s no.1 until he reached the twilight of his successful career.
Keylor Navas is set to become Madrid’s no.1 after the recent departure of Casillas, who was forced out of the club, starting afresh as a FC Porto player in Portugal.
#2 Defence
Danilo – £23m from Porto
The highly-rated Brazillian right-back was unveiled as a Real Madrid player in July 2015 despite his pre-agreement talks with the club back in the winter of 2014. The attacking full-back joined Madrid from Porto for a fee of £23 million on a six-year contract.
Danilo had a tremendous 2014/15 campaign with Porto scoring 6 goals in 29 appearances for the club. Real Madrid paid a hefty price for the young right-back who is fighting for a place in the lineup with Dani Carvajal who was signed from Bayer Leverkusen for £5 million.
Fabio Coentrao – £27m from Benfica
The Portuguese left back has struggled to live up to his price tag after he was signed back in 2011. It took extensive negotiations with SL Benfica for Madrid to finally sign their target. But Marcelo has been preferred over Coentrao at the Bernabeu and has he has been reduced to a squad player due to his ability to adapt in numerous positions.
Nevertheless, he’s currently the most expensive defender in Real Madrid’s squad.
Pepe – £20.2m from FC Porto
Pepe is one of the longest serving players in the current Real Madrid squad. Los Blancos sealed his signature back in 2007 from FC Porto for a reported fee of £20.2 million. Pepe along with Ramos have formed a formidable partnership at the Bernabeu over the years but has often been criticized for his harsh tackles and uncontrollable temper on the pitch.
#3 Midfield
Zinedine Zidane – £46m from Juventus
The three-time winner of FIFA Player Of The Year award arrived in 2001 for a world record fee of £46 million from Juventus. The French legend will always be remembered for his stunning match-winning volley against Bayer Leverkusen which helped Real Madrid secure their ninth Champions League title back in 2002. The goal has been cited as one of the greatest in Champions League history.
"He dominates the ball, he is a walking spectacle and he plays as if he had silk gloves on each foot. He makes it worthwhile going to the stadium – he's one of the best I have ever seen." – Alfredo Di Stefano on Zidane after he was named World Player of the Year in 2003.
James Rodriguez – £63m from AS Monaco
The 24-year-old Colombian starred for his national team in World Cup 2014 Brazil – bagging the tournament’s Golden Boot award with 6 goals despite being eliminated in the quarter-finals by hosts Brazil. He was also named in World Cup’s all-star eleven.
Due to his string of impressive performances on the biggest of stage, Real Madrid paid a big sum of £63 million for the Monaco midfielder. James Rodriguez signed for Real Madrid right after the World Cup campaign in the summer of 2014.
Xabi Alonso – £30m from Liverpool
The highly experienced Spanish midfielder arrived at the Bernabeu having won the 2004/05 Champions League with Liverpool. The Reds’ heroic comeback from 3 goals down in Istanbul is regarded as one of the greatest in Champion’s League history and the Spaniard had scored in the comeback and in the penalty shootout.
Alonso came with a hefty price tag of £30 million and was one of Madrid’s high-profile signings made in the summer of 2009. During his stint with Madrid, he won several major honours, and was instrumental in helping Real Madrid win La Decima in 2014 even though he missed the final due to suspension.
Kaka – £56m from AC Milan
Ricardo Kaka was one of the world class players at Real Madrid who never lived up to expectations and was labeled a waste of money for the Spanish giants after he left the club. Kaka made 85 appearances and scored only 23 goals in his five years at the Bernabeu.
The Brazillian playmaker is one of the most highly decorated midfielders in Europe having won the Ballon d’Or and FIFA Player of the Year award during his glorious years with AC Milan. He was the second most expensive player signed in the summer of 2009 by Florentina Perez for a reported fee of £56 million.
#4 Attack
Gareth Bale – £86m from Tottenham Hotspur
When Real Madrid announced the signing of Welsh international Gareth Bale, it broke world record transfer fee of £80 million which was previously set by Cristiano Ronaldo. Bale was signed for a reported fee of £86 million, making him the most expensive player in the history of football and was given the number 11 shirt.
Having won the PFA Player’s Player of the Year award twice in his time with Tottenham (2010/11 and 2012/13), he was shone in the spotlight and earned world recognition after his fine hat-trick in the Champions League against Inter Milan at San Siro. so good was his performance that Brazillian right back Maicon couldn’t deal with Bale’s pace all night and was completely “killed” according to teammate Rafael Van der Vaart.
Bale went on to win La Decima and the Copa del Rey in his first season at the Bernabeu – scoring in both finals.
Cristiano Ronaldo – £80m from Manchester United
Before the signing of Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo was the world’s most expensive footballer and his contract was worth more than £9 million per year. He was received by 85,000 fans during his presentation at the Santiago Bernabeu, breaking Maradona’s record of 75,000 fans when he was presented in Italy after his move from Barcelona.
“I have nothing but praise for the boy. He is easily the best player in the world. His contribution as a goal threat is unbelievable. His stats are incredible. Strikes at goal, attempts on goal, raids into the penalty box, headers. It is all there. Absolutely astounding!” – Sir Alex Ferguson, after Ronaldo's transfer to Real Madrid.
Ronaldo has an incredible goalscoring tally of 313 goals in 301 appearances for the club (as of the end of the 2014/15 season). The Portuguese forward is 10 goals shy of beating Raul’s all-time league record. The three-time Ballon d’Or winner has already earned a legendary status at the Bernabeu and there is no doubt his name will go down in the history books as one of the greatest players to have played in the famous white shirt.
Ronaldo Lima – £30m from Inter Milan
Ronaldo, commonly known as El Fenomeno (The Phenomenon) is considered by many experts and fans as the best striker of all time. He is one of only four players to have won the FIFA Player of the Year award thrice (along with Zidane, Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo). He also won Ballon d’Or twice in 1997 and 2002.
When Ronaldo signed for Los Blancos for a fee of £30 million, his jersey sales broke all records on the first day. The Brazillian striker made 127 appeareances and scored 83 goals for Madrid.
His stand out performance for Real Madrid was in Champions League quarter-final against Manchester United at Old Trafford where he scored a hat-trick and knocked the Red Devils out of the competition. He was even given standing ovation by both the home and away fans when he was substitued.
