Barcelona become the first club to spend over €1 billion in last five years, beating Manchester City and Real Madrid

Barcelona become the first club to spend over €1 billion in the last five years. 

With the signing of Antoine Griezmann, Barcelona have spent over €1 billion over the last five years. The Blaugrana have made some costly signings including the recent Frenchman, with Ousmane Dembele and Philippe Coutinho since 2017. The attacking trio cost them over €370 million, thereby surpassing the second-placed Manchester City. Barcelona have been dominant in the country, but they have struggled for European titles.

The Citizens are not far off Barcelona. Pep Guardiola has spent over 550 million since taking over Manchester City in 2016. The English side have spent 996 million under the management of Pep Guardiola and Manuel Pellegrini. They have had great success by spending money, becoming the most successful club since the turn of 2010.

Manchester United are the third club, having spent €890 million in the last five seasons. Louis Van Gaal and Jose Mourinho have made some costly signings, but the Red Devils have rarely improved the last few years. It is majorly down to the poor recruitment by overspending on certain players. They have won trophies in recent years, but the team has failed to click collectively – relying on the quality of the individual players.

Chelsea are the fourth club in the list, who have been considered fine in the last two seasons. They have managed to win the FA Cup and Europa League, but have failed to challenge for the league title in the meantime. They are followed by the bossman kings Juventus. The Old Lady have spent some hefty sum on Cristiano Ronaldo and Leonardo Bonucci.

In order to keep up with Real Madrid and Barcelona, Atletico Madrid have been forced to higher their spending. They are sixth in the list, with an expenditure of €800 million. The recent signing of Joao Felix has added more to this amount, although the net spent will be high as well.

Paris Saint Germain have relatively been quiet after the acquisition of Neymar and Kylian Mbappe in the last two years. Nonetheless, they have also spent over €773 million in the last five years. The French outfit is followed by Real Madrid, who are in a spending spree this summer.

The reigning Champions League winners Liverpool sit ninth in the list. Virgil Van Dijk and Alisson Becker are the two signings which have increased the amount. But, they have been brilliant with their transfers since the appointment of Jurgen Klopp. In the last, Italian side AS Roma have spent nearly €600 million.

1. Barcelona – €1.08 billion

2. Manchester City – €996 million

3. Manchester United – €890 million

4. Chelsea – €875 million

5. Juventus – €868 million

6. Atletico Madrid – €800 million

7. Paris Saint-Germain – €773 million

8. Real Madrid – €755 million

9. Liverpool – €714 million

10. AS Roma – €586 million

It is evident that the academies of some top sides have not clicked in recent years.