Young talents’ cost when they joined biggest clubs

CAIRO – 28 July 2017: Real Madrid are ready to pay €180 million ($209 million) to sign Monaco youngster, Kylian Mbappe, who played only one year at professional level, he won the French League and qualified to Champions League semi-final, he was surrounded with a great squad, the veteran striker, Radamel Falcao, Tiemoue Bakayoko, Bernardo Silva.

Mbappe is not the first to shine and not the first to attract big teams’ interest, all big names was young promising talents and they were transferred to big teams, but with acceptable numbers.

Let’s take a tour in the past to remember how much the best players in the world did cost when they moved from their childhood teams to bigger ones.

5 – Van Persie to Arsenal


Van Persie won UEFA Cup 2002 with Feyenoord - UEFA.

On 2004, Robin Van Persie, at 20 joined Arsenal from his childhood club, Feyenoord, he was a starting player for three years, he won UEFA Cup 2002 with his club and he was considered the best talent in the land of talents Netherland.

Arsene Wenger signed him with only £3 million ($3.9), he played with the club eight years, he moved to Manchester United, he played 2010 World Cup Final and he wrote his name with the best, with only £3 million.

4 – Ibrahimovic to Juventus


Zlatan moved to Juventus after three years in Ajax - Reuters

On 2004, Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s fee was only £10.8 millions when Juventus signed him from Ajax Amsterdam.

Zlatan was 23 years old, he was playing on the first division for three years, he won the Dutch League twice, he played in UEFA EURO 2004, but when Juventus signed him, they paid £10.8 millions.

3- Robben to Chelsea


Robben moved to Chelsea from PSV Eindhoven - Reuters

When Roman Abramovich bought Chelsea, he was ready to pay any money to sign players he wanted, and one of them was the 20 years old Dutch, ArJen Robben.

Robben was a regular starter in Netherlands League for Four Years with Groningen and PSV Eindhoven and he was chosen the best player in the year from PSV fans, he was a regular starter in Netherlands national team.

But at this time when the rich man bought a promising experienced talent, he paid only £12 millions.

2 – Cristiano Ronaldo to Manchester United


Ronaldo impreesed the world in Sporting Lisbon - Reuters

What would Sporting Lisbon board do when they hear Mbappe price, I think they will feel sorrow and regret for selling the current best player in the world for only £12.8.
Ronaldo who broke records and made a history bigger than clubs was sold for only £12.8.

1 – Saviola to Barcelona


Saviola joined Barcelona after a great time in River Plate - Reuters

When Barcelona paid £15 for the Argentinean striker Javier Saviola on 2001; there was a huge talk about how Barcelona board members are wasting money. Despite Saviola was the best player and the top scorer in 2001 U 20 World Cup and he was a starter in his club River Plate, but fans thought he is overpriced.

No one can ignore Kylian Mbappe talent, he is so fast so skillful he is just 18 with a very promising future, but if Mbappe costs €180 million, what would Lionel Messi cost?!
It turned out to be a crazy market.