Preseason has already started, but transfer market moves are still setting the pace for the soccer summer. Amid the heat, Europe's top clubs have fearlessly set out to strengthen their squads. As every year, the ranking of the teams that have spent the most is starting to take shape.
Real Madrid, despite the financial control policy so often promoted by Florentino Pérez, is once again among the main players in the market. However, there are important nuances that do not appear in the official report.
Because beyond the names, what is surprising are the figures. Some are well known and others are not included in the balance sheet presented to the public. But they all add up.
Official spending... and what is not seen
According to the ranking published by Mundo Deportivo, Real Madrid holds third place among the clubs that have invested the most this summer. Only Manchester United and Chelsea have spent more than the white team.
The official figure for Madrid is 180.5 million euros, corresponding to the signings of Huijsen, Franco Mastantuono, Álex Carreras, and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
However, there are three key moves that are not included in that total.
On one hand, the additional 10 million euros the club paid Liverpool to speed up Alexander-Arnold's arrival before the Club World Cup.
The 12 million euros in compensation to Ancelotti after his dismissal are also not counted. Nor are the 8 million euros it cost to break Xabi Alonso's contract with Bayer Leverkusen to bring him to the white bench.
If these three amounts are added, Madrid's actual spending this summer exceeds 210 million euros. This figure would put it close on Liverpool's heels, the second club that has spent the most.
This is the top 10 of the investor clubs ranking
This is the updated ranking with data from Mundo Deportivo:
1st Chelsea - 244 million euros
2nd Liverpool - 214 million euros
3rd Real Madrid - 180.5 million euros
4th Tottenham - 141 million euros
5th Manchester City - 131 million euros
6th Sunderland - 116 million euros
7th Bayer Leverkusen - 102 million euros
8th Como 1907 - 88.5 million euros
9th Arsenal - 87 million euros
10th Brighton & Hove Albion - 80 million euros
Madrid leads again
Beyond the accounting debate, what is clear is that Florentino Pérez has once again made a strong bet. The goal is to win every possible title this season and also dominate off the field. Because in the offices, Madrid also wants to be champion.