How much did the Giants pay for their starting eleven? Madness at City and PSG, cheap Real Madrid and Bayern

Buying stars for big money doesn’t always mean automatic success. Putting together a functioning team is the hardest thing to do in world football. Let’s take a look at the money a select few teams have spent to put together their starting elevens.

For comparison, we have selected Real Madrid, Barcelona, Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, PSG and Bayern Munich. We took into account the strongest or most frequently used eleven this season.

Real Madrid

Although Real are famous for their Galacticos, in the last decade, President Pérez has been more into smart buys or youngsters. Therefore, the transfer amounts of the starting eleven are not groundbreaking. What is particularly incredible is how little Real have put together the legendary trio of CKM in the centre of midfield.

Courtois
€35m

Carvajal – Militao – Alaba – Mendy
offspring – €50m – €0 – €48m

Kroos – Casemiro – Modric
€25m – €6m – €35m

Valverde – Benzema – Vinícius
€5m – €35m – €45m

Total – €285m

Barcelona

This year’s Barcelona is much affected by the financial problems that have befallen the club. Thus, it relies a lot on offspring, some still remaining at the club from the glorious era when the La Masia academy ruled the starting eleven. Even so, its eleven will climb to a relatively high amount thanks to individuals.

Ter Stegen
€12m

Alves – Araújo – Piqué – Alba
€0 – €4.7m – €5m – €14m

De Jong – Busquets – Pedri
€86m – offspring – €17m

Dembélé – Aubameyang – Torres
€140m – €0 – €55m

Total – €333.7m

Manchester United

A perfect example that even huge sums don’t have to mean success. Manchester United have invested incredible money in several players, but the trophies are not coming.

De Gea
€25m

Wan-Bissaka – Varane – Maguire – Shaw
€55m – €40m – €87m – €37m

Fred – McTominay – Bruno Fernandes
€59m – offspring – €63m

Rashford – C.Ronaldo – Sancho
offspring – €15m – €85m

Total – €466m

Manchester City

The Citizens are renowned for their spending and regularly spend huge sums on their reinforcements, but unlike their neighbours, they get away with it. In the Premier League, yes, but not in the Champions League. City are the record holder for our squad and that doesn’t even include the record breaking Jack Grealish (€117m) who is more of a substitute and Erling Haaland (€60m) who will be coming in from the new season.

Ederson
€40m

Walker – Dias – Laporte – Cancelo
€52m – €68m – €65m

Bernardo – Rodri – De Bruyne
€50m – €62m – €76m

Mahrez – Sterling – Foden
€67m – €63m – offspring

Total – €608m

Liverpool

Jürgen Klopp has a decently mixed squad of players at almost ‘zero’ cost with expensive reinforcements. However, the club is performing well financially and can afford it, plus it brings success on the pitch.

Alisson
€62m

TAA – Matip – Van Dijk – Robertson
offspring – €0m – €85m – €9m

Henderson – Thiago – Fabinho
€18m – €22m – €45m

Salah – Mane – Diaz
€42m – €41m – €45m

Total – €369m

Chelsea

Chelsea, under Roman Abramovich, aren’t afraid to spend a tidy sum. Last year it led to a Champions League win, this year the Blues have a shot at the FA Cup. From the new season, the London outfit will be under the reign of a new owner, let’s see how much he will put on reinforcements.

Mendy
€24m

Azpilicueta – Rüdiger – Silva – Alonso
€8m – €35m – €0 – €23m

Kante – Jorginho – Kovacic
€35m – €57m – €45m

Mount – Lukaku – Havertz
offspring – €113m – €80m

Total – €420m

PSG

A million dollar team full of stars. And another demonstration that even money doesn’t guarantee certain success. PSG are still waiting in vain to win the Champions League, which even Messi’s arrival didn’t help.

Navas
€15m

Hakimi – Marquinhos – Kimpembe – Mendes
€66.5m – €31m – offspring – €47m

Verratti – Gueye – Danilo
€12m – €30m – €16m

Messi – Mbappé – Neymar
€0 – €145m – €222m

Total – €584m

Bayern Munich

Bayern is a champion of squad composition. It performs very economically and, with a few exceptions (Hernandez €80m), doesn’t get into financial races. At the same time, they can put together a very strong and competitive squad, spending the least amount for the biggest movers in Lewandowski, Muller and Kimmich.

Neuer
€30m

Pavard – Upamecano – Hernandez – Davies
€35m – €42m – €80m – €10m

Kimmich – Goretzka – Müller
€8m – €0m – offspring

Gnabry – Lewandowski – Sane
€8m – €0 – €60m

Total – €273m

Source: Transfermarkt