It goes without saying that Real Madrid is one of the best teams in the world. Apart from making history in football, such as the time when the team won the Champions League three times in a row, one of the things that Real Madrid is known for is that the club always managed to sign some of the world’s best players on record fees.
At one point, the team was named Galacticos as it had some of the greatest players in history – Beckham, Ronaldo, Figo, Zidane, Raul, Roberto Carlos, Michael Owen, Michel Salgado, etc. This was one of the most legendary squads and it will be remembered for eternity.
While this era is now over, that doesn’t mean that Real Madrid does not want to purchase high-end players. After all, the club possesses a lot of money and it is not shy to put it on the line in order to get the best individuals.
When Real Madrid makes an offer, most players usually join the club. That is due to the fact that Madrid has massive influence in the football world and since it is one of the most accomplished teams in history, every player is aware of the fact that if he joins, he is in for a solid run.
One additional impressive fact about Real Madrid and its influence is that it expands in other areas besides football. One of the most interesting industries that deserve a mention is the online casino industry. Research has shown that many Real Madrid fans are fond of wagering money online, especially on casino games.
Of course, they do that responsibly, but since there are thousands of them, game providers wanted to please them and make their gaming experience unforgettable. Hence, they started developing Real Madrid-themed slots and virtual sports games that are quite interesting. Of course, finding the best operators is of extreme importance and if you wish to do that, feel free to read UK darts betting tips and picks to determine which sites will meet your individual preferences.
Now, let’s get back to the main topic. We mentioned that Real Madrid is known for high-end purchases, and that is the topic that we wanted to discuss in this article. We are going to take a look at the club’s record signings. Without any further ado, let’s dive into the topic.
Zinedine Zidane
Coming up at number 4, we have one of the best midfielders in the world and the man responsible for Real Madrid’s recent success, including the historic Champions League run where the club ended up with three consecutive trophies.
Real Madrid purchased Zinedine Zidane for a price of €77.50 million from Juventus, during the 2001/2002 season. At the time, this was a record-breaking transfer and even though many believed that the price is ridiculous, Zidane ended up exceeding the expectations.
Cristiano Ronaldo
Next up, we have arguably the greatest player of our generation, as well as in the history of football. Cristiano Ronaldo’s ceremony and Bernabeu was attended by 80,000 fans, which is an absolute record. Real Madrid purchased him for €94 million, which was yet another record-breaking fee.
During his time in Real, Ronaldo managed to demonstrate just how far you can go with hard work and dedication. He spent a total of 9 years with the club, during which he played 438 games, scored 450 goals, and assisted another 132. These stats are truly mesmerizing. In 2018, Cristiano made a surprising move to Juventus for a price of €112.
Gareth Bale
Gareth Bale, the man that has a love/hate relationship with Real Madrid. There’s no denying the fact that Bale is a very talented player, but his time in Real Madrid has proved to be a backstep in his career. Now, he is not to blame as Real Madrid played a part in that too as the club did not let him play and was trashing him publicly.
Then, Bale decided to take matters into his hands, which is why he stated that if Real Madrid decides to put him on the bench on every game, he’s fine with it as he’ll just play golf. Then, after a Wales match, he celebrated with a flag of his country that stated: Wales, Golf, Madrid. In That Order. He re-joined Spurs for a season-long loan, but now he is back at Real and there’s no news regarding his future. Bale was purchased for a price of €101 million in the 2013/2014 season.
Eden Hazard
Finally, we have the player that turned out to be a small fluke as he is yet to prove himself. Eden Hazard was purchased by Real Madrid for a price of €115 million, but due to weight and injury problems, he is currently performing well below the expectations. As the new season uncovers, we are excited to see what he will bring to the table.