The 10 best paid players currently at Real Madrid.
Real Madrid make an obscene amour of money, and as such can afford to pay their many stars an obscene amount of money to play football. With a number of their players on over £100,000 per week we have compiled a list of the ten best Galacticos currently plying their trade at the Santiago Bernabeu.
10. Sami Khedira
Earning: £120,000-per-week
One of the lower earners at the club, the World Cup winner made the move to the Spanish capital in a £14m deal from Stuttgart back in 2010. His future at the club has been cast into some doubt this summer with moves to Arsenal and Chelsea both being strongly mooted. However, with just one year left to run on his current deal he now seems to be staying with Real for one more season.
9. Luka Modric
Earning: £120,000-per-week
On the same pay as his German midfielder cohort, Modric is now beginning to justify the £33m fee the club paid Tottenham for him back in 2012. In a crowded midfield Modric has batted away his critics to grab a regular starting spot in the Madrid first team. Teaming up with Toni Kroos has got Madrid fans purring like Cheshire cats.
8. James Rodriguez
Earning: £120,000-per-week
The Colombian’s pay will likely increase to coincide with his importance to the team over the next couple of years, after winning the Golden Boot at the World Cup he will be expected to kick on and help the club compete on all fronts and build on last season’s Champions League success.
7. Xabi Alonso
Earning: £130,000-per-week
Set to depart for Bayern Munich this weekend, the former Liverpool ace has been one of the club’s most consistent performers since making the move to the Bernabeu in 2009. Costing the club £30m, they will only receive a fraction of that fee from their Bundesliga counterparts, but they will be safe in the knowledge that they have had five solid years of service from him.
6. Sergio Ramos
Earning: £140,000-per-week
One of Madrid’s poster boys, a modern day ‘Spice boy’ if you will, the Spanish international has been another of the club’s more consistent performers over the years. His transition from right-back into the centre of the back line has been seamless, and has not dented his contribution as a goal scorer, which likely top up his weekly earnings with fresh bonus payments.
5. Karim Benzema
Earning: £150,000-per-week
The Frenchman cost the Spanish giants £25m in 2009 when he moved from Lyon and has racked up an impressive scoring record for Real during that time. He is another one that had been tipped to make an exit from the club this summer, but they outlined how important his contribution is and persuaded him to stay put for another year at least.
4. Toni Kroos
Earning: £150,000-per-week
The latest jewell in the club’s crown and another World Cup winner. He’s already made Cristiano Ronaldo look daft in training and is now ready to do the same to La Liga defenders week in, week out. A steady assist maker for Bayern, his contribution will double as he lines up alongside Bale, Ronaldo and Benzema.
3. Iker Casillas
Earning: £165,000-per-week
The veteran shot stopper has been collecting the mega bucks whilst sitting on the bench for the past 18 months, though his contribution to the club’s Champions League victory will appease those questioning his earning potential. Still a capable performer and is on a naturally high wage thanks to his outstanding service to the cause over the years.
2. Gareth Bale
Earning: £256,000-per-week
The Welshman may be the club’s record signing, but that is not enough to make him the highest paid player there. Scoring 22 goals in his first season, including the winner in the Copa Del Rey against Barcelona, he has already been accepted by the club’s fans as a vital cog in their machine and will no doubt step it up a gear again this term after getting used to the league’s ins and outs over the past year.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo
Earning: £288,000
Well worth the money as what he brings in surely draws the outgoings. In his time at the club he has only failed to score 30+ goals a season once. The complete package and outstanding value for money in terms of entertainment, what he makes from sponsorship deals on the side is frightening.