Following the mammoth double signing PSG have made in the last week with the backing of their Qatar based owners in the form of Zlatan Ibrahimovic and Thiago Silva, both of AC Milan, we will look at whether they make it into the top 10 football transfers of all time, and whether these signings have justified their price tag. With the transfer market having a reputation for producing inflated prices for footballers in recent times, the club splashed out £33 million on the Brazilian defender, whilst spending around £31 million on the Swedish striker, who made his second big money move in recent times, following his much talked about transfer to Barcelona a few seasons ago.
10. Ronaldo – Barcelona to Inter Milan (£37.4 million)
With few arguing about the Brazilians talent, he can be considered one of the greatest strikers of all time, with a phenomenal goal scoring record at each of his clubs, and his move in 2002 proved no different. The Brazilian matured at the club, and then took his career to new heights following a move to Spanish giants Real Madrid during their Galactico era, where he was joined by high profile names such as Luis Figo, Zidane and Roberto Carlos.
9. Sergio Aguero – Athletico Madrid to Manchester City (£38 million)
Under the backing of their Arab owners, Roberto Mancini looked to bolster his attacking options in 2011 to force a title push, following a fourth place finish the season before. The club looked to the Argentine striker, who had been closely looked at by Chelsea, who opted to buy Fernando Torres rather than the quick and clinical striker. Once Mancini announced his admiration for the striker, there was no other outcome apart from the striker making a big money move to the Etihad. Here he enjoyed a fine season, scoring the goal which won the club the Premier League trophy in the dying seconds against a relegation threatened QPR.
8. Hernan Crespo – Parma to Lazio (£38 million)
Lazio splashed out big in 2000, purchasing one of the hottest properties in the game, breaking the transfer record at the time for the Argentine. They have never looked back since, with the striker winning the Golden Boot in his first season with the club, winning them the title with 26 goals. He was not as prolific after that season, scoring a handful of goals, but not having the creativity behind him with the club selling Juan Veron and Pavel Nedved.
7. Radamel Falcao – Porto to Athletico Madrid (£40.7 million)
The Colombian frontman, much like Aguero in the sense that he was pursued by Chelsea in the season leading up to his transfer, made his move to the cash strapped Spanish outfit as they had received a hefty sum of money for Sergio Aguero weeks before. The striker brought success to the club, winning the UEFA Cup and scoring a more than competitive 24 goals in 34 appearances for the Madrid based side.
6. Luis Figo – Barcelona to Real Madrid (£44 million)
In 2000, Real Madrid set out to buy the biggest names in football, paying almost ransom prices for these players to appear in Real Madrid colours, and the case with Figo was no different, with Spanish rivals Barcelona demanding a top price for the midfielder. He enjoyed a glorious career with the club, winning La Liga in 2001 and 2003 as well as the Champions League in 2001.
5. Fernando Torres – Liverpool to Chelsea (£50 million)
Following speculation of a rejected bid from Chelsea of around £40 million pounds, Fernando Torres handed in a transfer request in order to push a move to the London club, who signed him in the January transfer window of 2011. It would be hard to justify that Torres has lived up to the price tag Chelsea paid for him, with the Spanish striker not reaching the form he reached with Liverpool in the seasons before. However, with Didier Drogba leaving the club for China, football fans worldwide will want to see Torres justify a starting place in the Chelsea side, with creative talent in the form of Juan Mata and Eden Hazard behind him.
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