The 7 Biggest Sales in the History of Real Madrid

The 22/23 season for Real Madrid began even before the end of the previous one. With a failed transfer of Mbappé in between, in the end they only added two players, Rudiger and Tchouaméni, whose goals are nothing more than to reinforce a squad that comes from winning almost everything. However, a few weeks after the transfer market closed, an unexpected offer turned Casemiro into one of the biggest sales in the history of the Spanish club.

The departure of the Brazilian midfielder not only meant another big influx of money for Madrid this year, but also the end of a society that marked an era in soccer: the MCK (Modric, Casemiro, Kross). In recent decades, the club chaired by Florentino Pérez has done lucrative business in every way, regardless of whether the sale is of one of its renowned figures.

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In turn, it is worth adding that at the beginning of the year, the CIES Football Observatory published a balance of the clubs that have moved the most millions in the last decade. There, Real Madrid was positioned as the seventh that spent the most on transfers with $1,521 million, and was the fourth that received the most in sales with $1,125 million. Even since the problems with the pandemic, they have maintained a positive balance ($163 million), something that no other elite club has managed to achieve.

Next, we tell you what the 7 biggest sales in the history of Real Madrid have been. The figures are courtesy of the specialized portal Transfermarkt.

7. Achraf Hakimi

The Moroccan defender was trained in the youth categories of Real Madrid and for the 17/18 season he made his debut with the first team. With little space in the squad, Hakimi went on loan for two years to Borussia Dortmund, a positive decision for his career that made him consecrate himself in Europe. Back in 2020, the white club sold him for €43 million to Inter Milan.

6. Mateo Kovacic

After three seasons showing a very good level with Inter, the Croatian caught the attention of Madrid, who signed him in 2015 for €38 million. Although he always had a secondary role and was under the shadow of Kross and Modric, Kovacic was part of the three Champions Leagues in a row that the club won. He went on loan to Chelsea in 2018, only to be acquired in full a year later for €45 million.

5. Mesut Özil

The quality and magic that the German gave off when he had the ball at his feet made many fall in love at the Santiago Bernabéu. Özil arrived in the Spanish capital in 2010 from Werder Bremen for around €18m, not to mention having a terrific World Cup in South Africa. His best year was in 2012 after winning the League, the Spanish Super Cup and being the top assister of the season. In 2013 he left for Arsenal, who paid €47 million.

4. Alvaro Morata

No other Spaniard has moved more money in transfers than him. Morata's career began in the youth categories of Real Madrid, which made him debut with the first team in 2013. He had a second opportunity at the white club, which brought him back from Juventus for €30 million in 2016. In the end, and after 9 titles with the White House, Morata headed for London in 2017 after Chelsea paid €66 million.

3. Casemiro

The Brazilian has been the last great sale of the white team. At 30 years old and with 18 titles won (including 5 Champions), Casemiro decided to look for new challenges in his career and is now a Manchester United player, who paid €70 million, which could be more for goals. In January 2013, the Brazilian arrived on loan from Sao Paulo to Real Madrid Castilla, and after his good performance, the club signed him for €6 million. The rest is history.

2. Angel Di Maria

Few players can boast of having played with the best clubs in Europe, and the Argentine is one of those. Three seasons at Benfica were enough for Madrid to take an interest in him, and in that 2010 transfer market he joined for €33 million. In his four years, he did not stop being decisive, as in the 2013 Champions League final and while maintaining an optimal level, he was sold to Manchester United for €75 million.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo

To date, it is difficult to think that another player can unseat the Portuguese from first place. Florentino Pérez signed him in 2009 from Manchester United for €94 million, a record at the time, and time proved every penny invested right. The story between Cristiano and Real Madrid came to an end after that third consecutive Champions League final that they won in 2018, as the president did not hesitate to let him go to Juventus for €117 million.