Money matters as big clubs assemble mega squads
The CIES Football Observatory released their weekly report on their website, which featured the ranking of each squad’s market value within Europe’s top 5 leagues.
The rankings are actually ordered according to the gap ‘between the value of squads and transfer fee expenditure to assemble them’, but here, we are focusing on just the squad valuation.
Without further ado, here are the top 10…
10. Juventus
Squad Valuation: €567m
The addition of record Serie A signing Gonzalo Higuain definitely increased the value of the Old Lady’s squad, although with the likes of Pablo Dybala, Miralem Pjanic and the defensive fortress of individuals, it is no surprise that the dominant force in Italian football are in the top 10.
9. Liverpool
Squad Valuation: €593m
With Jurgen Klopp now firmly at the helm, the Reds are looking to finally end their Premier League hoodoo and clinch the title. An exciting group of players have gathered together on Merseyside to take on the challenge, including Philippe Coutinho, Roberto Firmino and Adam Lallana.
8. Manchester City
Squad Valuation: €655m
City are ranked 48th when incorporating the gap between the squad’s value and its cost, with the Citizens using their financial power to capture the likes of Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones and Raheem Sterling. They continue to invest in young talent, which has also impacted on the squad’s value, with Gabriel Jesus and Leroy Sane expected to be big stars.
7. Arsenal
Squad valuation: €660m
Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez probably represent the majority of the Gunners’ squad value, with the latter in particular seeing his stock grow after an incredible season so far. Arsene Wenger continues to keep faith in youth and both Alex Iwobi and Hector Bellerin are set for big futures.
6. Chelsea
Squad Valuation: €682m
It is Chelsea’s Premier League title to lose this season after going on an unbelievable 13 game winning streak that has seen them top the table. Stars like Eden Hazard, Diego Costa and N’Golo Kante are all valued extremely highly, but the Blues just miss out on the top 5.
5. Atletico Madrid
Squad Valuation: €696m
Diego Simeone has transformed Atletico Madrid from a decent La Liga side into a European powerhouse by creating an organic team of hard working players. Now though, such players are receiving the deserved recognition and the likes of Antoine Griezmann, Koke and Yannick Carrasco would fetch millions in the market.
4. Manchester United
Squad valuation: €700m
Ranked in 95th place between Hull City and Valencia, and with a negative difference between squad cost and squad valuation, nonetheless, the Manchester United players are extremely valuable footballers – within their ranks, they boast the likes of the world’s most expensive player of all time Paul Pogba, Swedish superstar Zlatan Ibrahimovic and England skipper Wayne Rooney. All are worth tens of millions.
3. Tottenham Hotspur
Squad valuation: €799m
It should not come as too much of a surprise to see Spurs so high up in a list of this sort. The North London club’s policy of investing in young English talent and promoting stars from their youth system has most certainly paid off. Players such as Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Eric Dier and Danny Rose are now sought after by all of the continent’s biggest clubs.
2. Real Madrid
Squad valuation: €921m
Despite breaking the bank to bring in many of their biggest stars, Real Madrid sit comfortably as one of the most valuable group of players ever assembled in the game. From Sergio Ramos and Marcelo to Gareth Bale and Cristiano Ronaldo, manager Zinedine Zidane has a plethora of talent at his disposal.
1. FC Barcelona
Squad valuation: €1,071m
The only club in world football to break the billion Euro mark in terms of squad value, FC Barcelona owe their top spot almost entirely to the unprecedented strikeforce of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar. A world record fee would be needed to prise any of them away from the Nou Camp.
