AS GARETH BALE finally signs for Real Madrid, reports suggest the former Spurs winger has become the 41st player to hold the title of the world’s most expensive footballer.
The cost of transfers has obviously increased as money has flowed into the game but it’s only 40 years since Johann Cruyff became the world’s first €1m player and now, if reports are to be believed, we have the world’s first €100m footballer.
To mark Bale’s transfer, we look at some of the other record-breaking deals that have been completed in the last four decades.
1982 – Diego Maradona, Boca Juniors to Barcelona, €3.5m
YouTube: MNarek91
Still the only player to break it twice (he moved from Barca to Napoli two years later for €5.87m), Maradona was the first player to be bought for a fee in excess of €3m.
1992 – Jean-Pierre Papin, Marseille to Milan, €11.7m
Image: Phil O’Brien/EMPICS Sport
Frenchman Papin was the first player to break the €10m barrier when he moved to Italy in 1982. Despite scoring almost one in every two games, he was on his way to Bayern Munich two years later.
1992 – Gianluigi Lentini, Torino to Milan, €15.25m
Image: Neal Simpson/EMPICS Sport
Lentini held the record for four years when he switched from Torino to Milan but, despite winning a Serie A title in his first year with the club, a car crash dented any hopes the Italian had of reaching his full potential.
1997 – Ronaldo, Barcelona to Inter Milan, €22.9m
YouTube: MNarek91
The €20m mark was breached in 1997 when Inter met the buyout clause in Ronaldo’s Barcelona contract to bring the want-away Brazilian striker to Italy. Ronaldo’s time at Inter wasn’t exactly a success with just one UEFA Cup win in five years to show for it.
1999 - Christian Vieri, Lazio to Internazionale, €37.5m
Image: Fabio Diena/Press Association Images
Inter smashed the world record transfer fee for the second time in two years when they splashed out on Christian Vieri to break the €30m barrier for the first time. The striker scored over 100 goals for the Milan giants but had just a solitary Italian Cup to celebrate.
2000 – Hernán Crespo, Parma to Lazio, €41.6
Image: Steve Mitchell/EMPICS Sport
Lazio used some of the money they made on Vieri to buy the prolific Crespo from fellow Italian side Parma. Despite 39 goals in 54 appearances, the striker won no major honours with the Rome club.
2001 – Zinedine Zidane, Juventus to Real Madrid, €53.5m
YouTube: rifway22
The world transfer record was broken for the third time in two years when Madrid, building their Galácticos-era side, became the first team to pay more than €50m for a player. Perhaps the most successful transfer on our list, Zidane won almost every major trophy (except the King’s Cup and UEFA Cup) with Real.
2009 – Kaká, Milan to Real Madrid, €65.7m
Image: Martin Meissner/AP/Press Association Images
It would take eight years for the world transfer record to be broken and, yet again, it was Madrid who would do the breaking. Kaká has endured a frustrating time at the Bernabéu and only last month expressed his desire to leave.
2009 – Cristiano Ronaldo, Manchester United to Real Madrid, €93.9m
YouTube: CriRo7i
Madrid broke the world transfer record for a second time in 2009 when they finally prised long-term-targert Cristiano Ronaldo away from Manchester United for nearly €94m. While Ronaldo was the first man to breach the €70m, €80m and €90m mark, it looks as if Bale can claim the title of being the first nine figure footballer.
Can’t believe the journal couldn’t find someone to do a minute by minute for the Ulster final….but of Course the Leinster senior AND minor were fully covered.
Struggled to watch it not to mind read about it tbh
I agree, maybe Mr. O Rourke can explain The Journal’s policy, if he is allowed?
No they did, he fell asleep.
Why cover shite.
You’re just sore you were captured in Donegal Wolfe, let it go man
Have to agree wit you Wolfe tone, hard to watch, hon the Farney .
To win 3 of the last 4 Ulster championships is a great achievement. Well done Donegal.
Thx. Great win by the minors too – they look v strong. Best of luck to Monaghan – hope they can regroup for qualifiers.
absolute dire stuff Ulster is slowly killing Gaelic football
Donegal won easy enough in the end. Never really looked that threatened by Monaghan. Be interesting to see how far Donegal can go this year.
Still more entertaining than at least 25-35% of soccer matches.
That’s a random stat kevin
It’s not a stat, stats are facts. This is just an opinion. Big difference.
Ok, it’s a bit random that you pulled a figure of 25-35% out of your ass. Valid opinion indeed.
So if I said “this match was still more entertaining than a good chunk of soccer matches”, you wouldn’t have been so pedantic? Or would “good chunk” have been too vague to gain your validation as an opinion??
I see. So you’re easily bothered, and failed to see the very basic sentiment behind my comment. I hope I don’t fall foul of your judgement again
Most interesting thing was the Palestine flag at the end #Controversial
Why #flag
Would rather eat my own flesh than watch that again…
Would that include eating your own willie, Willie?
Although the quality of football wasn’t fantastic, the commentary was shocking. Tom Carr and Martin carney are two of the worst “experts” ever to commentate on football.
Dublin no biting , Dublin no biting. Oh man.
Puke football – if this stuff wins titles I’m off to watch cricket
Off you go to the lords then so.
I see the savages on the pitch for the presentation anything goes in Ulster
Not unlike the savages caged in on the hill eeh Paul
Tyrone fooked that up for everyone if I remember correctly the province is killing the game
Only savages dear Paul r on Dublin Football team how many bitings now.
none how many players sanctioned over biting Eileen?
Jason Whelan 1 and the other ones the GAA buckled it
Paul this is the second time you asked that question and on both occasions you got your answer – Jason Whelan for one. This disgusting Neanderthal behaviours has to stop. Whatever the debate about tactics no player should be subjected to this barbarism.
totally agree no time for such carry on
That was a terrible advertisement for GAA. As poor as the Leinster Final was at least there was some football on show. Let’s hope they meet Mayo again this year and get another hammering. Maybe then they will change their tactics and try and play the game as it is meant to be played.
It’s the only tactic to get out of Ulster. If you want to stop it then support an open draw. I’m up for that. I can say for certain if Dublin were in ulster they’d not come out with 3 out of 4 provincial titles.
Well first of all they can’t play Mayo unless they both get to the final. And play how its ment to be played? Didn’t realise there was a compulsory style of Gaelic football play. May as well through out all the chalkboards, scouting missions, tactics and formation styles as everyone has to play the same to be successful.
Congrats to donegal on victory! But,I don’t know what to say about the football,I’m at loss where to start really, putrid football! Just pure MUCK
Pure shit to look at.
So is your… Ah forget it