The Italian Serie A has hosted some of the world’s most prestigious football clubs throughout its history. Week in and week out, the league has featured world-class athletes who have entertained millions of fans across the world.
The Italian teams have lost ground to their Spanish, German, and English counterparts during the recent decade. Since AC Milan’s victory in 2007, no Serie A club has won the Champions League, but it is not through a lack of trying.
The powerhouse in Serie A Juventus is the only Italian side to have appeared in two Champions League finals in the recent decade. They were defeated by Barcelona in 2015 and Real Madrid in 2017, but they are not giving up yet. They have repeatedly shattered the Serie A transfer record to bring in the greatest players and conquer Europe.
Let’s take a look at the five most costly transactions in Serie A history.
5. Arthur Melo (Barcelona in 2020): €76.0 million
Barcelona’s highly-rated center midfielder Arthur Melo transferred to Juventus for €12 million in the summer of 2020, while Miralem Pjanic (estimated €60 million) headed the opposite way. At the time, the Brazilian midfielder was at the height of his game at the Camp Nou, and he was dubbed the “next big thing” in Spanish football.
Consequently, the Blaugrana were short on cash and couldn’t pass up the money-plus-player deal. Since his move to Turin, the former Gremio player has been in poor form. He’s shown flashes of brilliance here and there, but his stint hasn’t been long enough to justify his exorbitant transfer fee. Arthur has only appeared in 47 games for Juve, scoring one goal and providing one assist.
4. Dusan Vlahovic (Fiorentina in 2022): €81.6 million
Dusan Vlahovic has joined Juventus on a record €81.6 million prices after a thrilling tenure at Fiorentina. His deal, which was completed on January 28th, was the most high-profile move made during the winter transfer window this season.
Vlahovic, 22, joined Fiorentina in 2018 from Partizan. He scored 49 goals in 108 appearances for the Italian club between 2018 and 2022, with 20 of them coming this season. In the 2021-22 season, the Serbian has scored 17 times in Serie A, tying Ciro Immobile of Lazio for the league’s leading scorer.
3. Matthijs de Ligt (Ajax in 2019): €85.5 million
Serie A features several talented young defenders, but none can compare to Matthijs de Ligt, Juventus’ youthful warrior. De Ligt burst into the forefront in the 2018-19 season after rising through Ajax’s illustrious youth system.
The Eredivisie side advanced to the Champions League semi-finals under his guidance, knocking off 13-time champions Real Madrid in the process. Juventus paid €85.5 million for him ahead of the 2019-20 season, as they were searching for new blood at the back.
The 22-year-old has since tried his hardest to live up to his exorbitant price tag, demonstrating why he is so highly regarded. In some bouts, he has also been successful, but in others, he has appeared fairly ordinary.
Since his move to Turin, the former Ajax man may not have won over all of his detractors, but he does have time on his side. If he can stay in shape and keep his eyes peeled, he could prove to be a significant addition to Serie A in the future years.
2. Gonzalo Higuain (Napoli in 2016): €90 million
Gonzalo Higuain was brought to Turin for €90 million in 2016 after the Old Lady was impressed by his record-breaking season with Napoli in 2015-16. The fans of Napoli were enraged by his transfer to a straight Serie A rival, but the Argentine sniper paid no attention to the obnoxious chanting.
His mobility, game-reading skills, and iron determination helped him establish himself as one of Serie A’s top goal scorers. In the 2016-17 season, Higuain scored 24 goals in the Italian top flight, leading Bianconeri to the title without breaking a sweat. The next season, his goal production plummeted, and he was loaned out to AC Milan in the summer of 2018.
1. Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid in 2018): €117 million
Cristiano Ronaldo departed Real Madrid for Juventus in the summer of 2018 after winning three Champions League titles in a row. The €117 million transfer was made to assist the Italian heavyweights in achieving the seemingly unachievable goal of winning the Champions League.
In a matter of days, Ronaldo, the most followed man on social media, increased Juventus’ earnings. Ronaldo’s charisma alone helped the Old Lady become one of the most popular teams in the world.
On the pitch, the no.7 was as magnificent as ever, putting the ball in the back of the net with ease. In total, he scored 101 goals for Juventus in 134 games, making him the club’s fastest player to achieve 100 goals.
Ronaldo increased Bianconeri’s revenue stream by scoring 101 goals and winning two Serie A titles. Unfortunately, he failed to achieve the one goal for which he was hired, which was to win the Champions League.
Ronaldo’s most memorable Champions League performance in Juventus colors was a pivotal hat-trick in the second leg of Juve’s Round of 16 comebacks win over Atletico Madrid in 2019. Before returning to Manchester United in August 2021, the tournament’s record goalscorer scored 14 goals in 23 appearances for Juventus in the Champions League.
Read: Dusan Vlahovic to join Juventus: €75m fee agreed for top Serie A striker
