In pics: Most expensive football transfers

Feb 03, 2011 05:51am

Cristiano Ronaldo: The ex-Sporting Lisbon and Manchester United winger was bought by Real Madrid for a record-breaking 80 million Pounds. Ronaldo scored a whopping 118 goals in 292 appearances for the Red Devils.
Zlatan Ibrahimovic: Proclaimed as 'the best player in the world' by many coaches and players, 'Ibra' cost Barcelona 56.5 million Pounds with Cameroon hitman Samuel Etoo going the other way to Inter Milan.
Kaka: Touted to end his career with the AC Milan, Kaka was prized away from AC Milan by Real Madrid at a price of 53 million Pounds, which the Italian club just could not refuse.
Fernando Torres: Chelsea signed the Spanish hitman just 13 minutes before the close of the winter transfer window on 31st January 2011, with Liverpool pocketing 50 million pounds in return.
Zinedine Zidane: Regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time, 'Zizou' was the second player to join the Galactico revolution under then Real Madrid president Fiorentino Perez for 45 million Pounds. [Photo by Dominic Barnardt/Getty Images]
Luis Figo: The Portugese play-maker was a hated figure in Catalunya after his controversial switch from Barcelona to bitter rivals Real Madrid for 37 million Pounds. [Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images]
Hernan Crespo:After plying his trade at Parma where he scored 12 goals in 27 matches, Lazio broke the transfer record in 2000 by purchasing the Argentine striker for 35 million. [Photo by Valerio Pennicino/Getty Images]
Andy Carroll:The Burly English forward was involved in a bidding war between a host of Premier league clubs including the likes of Tottenham, and Liverpool, with the Reds landing the Newcastle hitman for a hefty 35 million Pounds. [Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images]
David Villa:The Spanish No.7 was in hot form all throughout his tenure at Valencia racking up 129 goals in 212 starts, which prompted Barca to take advantage of Valencia's financial crunch and snap the forward for 34.2 million.
Gianluigi Buffon One of the best goalkeepers in the world was snapped by the Old Lady from Parma for a record sum of 32.6 million pounds. He still remains the costliest shot stopper in footballing history.