Who has had the biggest-spending transfer window of all time…
Manchester United went on a huge spending spree this summer, as the club looks to quickly rejuvenate itself after a difficult period. Manager Louis van Gaal smashed the British transfer record to sign Argentine winger Angel di Maria from Real Madrid, while there were several other high profile arrivals – including Ander Herrera, Luke Shaw and Radamel Falcao.
But of course they’re not the first team to spend big in a transfer window, nor will they be the last. CaughtOffside counts down the ten biggest single season spends of all time, and finds out where Manchester United rank:
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10) Manchester City (€145 – 2010/11)
Roberto Mancini splashed the cash as financially empowered City chased trophies. The Italian signed Jerome Boateng, Yaya Toure, David Silva, Aleksandar Kololarov, Mario Balotelli and James Milner in the summer of 2010, while Edin Dzeko arrived in January the following year. City would go onto win the FA Cup, with Toure scoring the winning goal.
9) AC Milan (€146 – 2001/02)
Entering into a period of dominance for the club, Milan started their 2001–02 campaign by signing star players such as Kakha Kaladze, Rui Costa, Filippo Inzaghi, Martin Laursen, Jon Dahl Tomasson, and the iconic Andrea Pirlo from neighbours Inter.
8) Paris Saint Germain (€147 – 2012/13)
This was the moment that PSG signalled their intent to become one of Europe’s biggest clubs. They signed Ezequiel Lavezzi, Thiago Silva, Marco Verratti, Zlatan Ibrahimovi?, Lucas Moura and even David Beckham ahead of retirement.
7) Chelsea (€150 – 2004/05)
Jose Mourinho announced himself as Chelsea manager by engineering a massive overhaul of his playing staff. He brought in Paulo Ferreira, Petr ?ech, Arjen Robben, Mateja Kežman, Didier Drogba, Tiago and Ricardo Carvalho among others.
6) Barcelona (€157 – 2014/15)
Barcelona have spent big this summer, knowing that the players they sign now will need to see them through the next 18 months, with the club banned from signing players for the next two transfer windows. In addition to Liverpool’s Luis Suarez, the Catalans brought in the likes of Marc-André ter Stegen, Ivan Rakiti?, Claudio Bravo, Jérémy Mathieu and Thomas Vermaelen.
5) Chelsea (€158 – 2003/04)
Chelsea actually made their biggest spend the year before Mourinho’s arrival, under the leadership of Claudio Ranieri. Financed by Roman Abramovich, the Blues signed the likes of Claude Makélélé, Scott Parker, Hernán Crespo, Adrian Mutu, Juan Sebastián Verón, Joe Cole, Damien Duff, Wayne Bridge and Glen Johnson.
4) Juventus (€177 – 2001/02)
Juventus made several big-name additions in the summer of 2001, while helped them end a three year Serie A title drought. Club legend Gianluigi Buffon arrived at the club, while Pavel Nedv?d replaced the departed Zinedine Zidane. Other additions included Lilian Thuram and Marcelo Salas.
3) Real Madrid (€183 – 2013/14)
Real Madrid spent big last simmer, with their major signing of course being Gareth Bale for a world record transfer fee. In addition, they signed Asier Illarramendi and Isco for a combined €59.2m.
2) Manchester United (€196 – 2013/14)
It won’t take much to remember the names of the players Manchester United brought in this summer, with a whole host of world stars ready to show their stuff at Old Trafford. Only time will tell as to whether they are able to bring success back to the ailing club.
1) Real Madrid (€265 – 2009/10)
Real Madrid left all in their wake with their spending power in 2009/10. Not only did they smash the world record transfer fee for Manchester United’s Cristiano Ronaldo, but they also brought in Kaka, Xabi Alonso and Karim Benzema among a host of galactico signings.
SEE ALSO: Angel di Maria in Manchester United’s most expensive ever XI.