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Kylian Mbappe PSG received a world-record bid Saudi Arabia

5 entire squads worth less than Saudi Arabia are willing to pay for one season of Kylian Mbappe

Saudi Arabia are willing to pay €1billion to have Kylian Mbappe for just one season, according to reports. That’s more than the entire cost of some of the most lavishly-assembled squads in world football.

According to journalist James Benge, reigning Saudi Pro League champions Al Hilal are willing to pay a world-record €300million fee to sign Mbappe from PSG.

They’re also prepared to offer the France international a salary package worth €700million for just one season before allowing him to return to Europe for free.

That total cost would be €1billion – which is more than the entire transfer value of entire squads from Europe’s most glamorous clubs. We’ve picked out five from Europe’s top five leagues. Note: All transfer valuations are via Transfermarkt.

Real Madrid – €980million

Los Blancos boast the fourth most valuable squad in world football, behind Arsenal, Man City and PSG, according to Transfermarkt.

The La Liga champions’ most lucrative assets include the likes of Vinicius Junior, Jude Bellingham, Rodrygo, Aurelien Tchouameni and Eduardo Camavinga – so they look pretty well set for the future.

It also looks as though Mbappe will be turning out in Madrid’s royal white strip sooner or later. And the 24-year-old is currently valued as the world’s most valuable player – tied with Erling Haaland – at €180million.

Spanish Copa del Rey, FC Barcelona versus Real Madrid; pre-game training; Carlo Ancelotti Real manager

READ: The 10 most valuable football clubs in the world

Bayern Munich – €934million

Perennial Bundesliga champions Bayern have gone through something of a transition in recent years, with only a couple of faces remaining from the start of their imperial era over a decade ago.

Thomas Muller and Manuel Neuer might not be worth what they once were, but the likes of Jamal Musiala, Alphonso Davies and Matthijs de Ligt are safeguarding their future.

Barcelona – €870million

Barcelona have endured financial turmoil in recent seasons and they’re not out of the woods just yet, with major question marks over their ability to register their new recruits.

But the Catalan club are getting there, having moved on from era-defining high earners like Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Jordi Alba and looking ahead to a new generation of homegrown talent like Pedri, Gavi and Alejandro Balde.

Still, the entire squad of Xavi’s La Liga champions doesn’t quite reach the billion mark.

Liverpool – €846million

Fenway Sports Group have sanctioned spending of approximately €666million to build Jurgen Klopp’s Reds squad – while there may be considerably more spent in further midfield reinforcements like Romeo Lavia in the coming weeks.

The squad is valued at considerably more now than it was built for, with Trent Alexander-Arnold, Andrew Robertson, Harvey Elliott and Curtis Jones representing massively profitable assets were they ever to be sold on.

Manchester United – €845million

Only PSG have spent more on building their squad than United, who have spent over just over a billion euros on the players at Erik ten Hag’s disposal.

The value of their squad has depreciated over the course of United’s up-and-down travails in recent years, but they do look back on the right track once again.

While there’s criticism over whether signings like Antony, Jadon Sancho and Harry Maguire have proven value for money, they’re balanced out by Carrington talent like Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho.


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