In 1975 the world collectively shook its head when Giuseppe Savoldi became football’s first £1million player.
Napoli paid Bologna a fee of £1.2mil, breaking the £922,000 record previously held by Johan Cruyff following his move from Ajax to Barcelona.
Forty-three years on and Sky Sports News’ breaking ticker wouldn’t get out of bed, or onto your TV screens, for less than £20m.
CLAIM YOUR FREE £20 BET Sun Bets have this brilliant offer when you sign up and bet a fiver
So let’s look towards an even more expensive future.
Who’s going to be the first player to break the £200m mark?
I’ve looked into the crystal ball but it was broken so if these are completely wrong then you know who to blame.
Neymar
PSG had the cheek to steal buy Neymar from Barcelona for £198m, £2m under the magic mark.
In all likelihood he’ll be the man to break the £200m barrier when he leaves PSG for Real Madrid having grown tired of beating Amiens 8-0 every other week.
The flirting has already begun, all that needs to happen now is a like on Instagram and a ‘accidental’ tweet to seal the deal.
Lionel Messi
Messi probably wont move, but if he does he’ll be one expensive GOAT.
Given Man City’s ties with Barcelona in Pep Guradiola and Txiki Begiristain, not to mention their endless supply of money, it’s not out of the question that Messi would end up at the Etihad.
But would Sergio Aguero hand over the no.10 shirt?
Harry Kane
Yer da still thinks that if Harry Kane was called Hierro Kaninho he’d be worth £200m.
Well yer da is right. Kind of. Madrid need goals and there’s only one man who can hold a candle to Cristiano Ronaldo and Messi at the moment. Harry Edward Kane.
Picture it now, Mauricio Pochettino and Walthamstow’s finest striding onto the field to take on Barcelona in El Clasico. Glamorous.
Jan Oblak
Why does no one ever care about goalkeepers? They never get a mention when it comes to big money moves.
We’ll I’m putting an end to it. If any keeper is worthy of breaking the £200m barrier for it’s Oblak.
The 25-year-old Slovenian kept 59 clean sheets in his first 100 games for Atletico Madrid. Enough said.
Gianluigi Donnarumma
While we’re on the subject of goalkeepers, how about Gigio?
Despite falling out with Milan’s ultras he remains one of the most highly-rated goalkeepers around.
You might think tipping him for a £200m move is a bit steep but this is a man with Mino Raiola for an agent, so he’ll probably go for £300m.
Vinicius Junior
Vinicius cost Madrid near enough £40m at the age of 16, so by the time PSG and Man City come knocking he’ll at be worth at least £200m.
Either that or he’ll be the top search on Google when you look up ‘failed wonderkids’.
Who cares. By then we’ll all be swimming in Bitcoin and VAR will have made football a four-day event.
Ryan Sessegnon
The transfer taking Sessegnon from Fulham to Spurs is the most predictable deal of next summer. You may as well start printing the shirts now.
But what about when leaves Spurs for Man United as a World Cup and Ballon d’Or winner in 2024?
It’ll be a big one so, start saving now Ed Woodward.
PLAY DREAM TEAM WEEKENDER Pick seven players to win £5k!
READ MORE FROM THE WORLD OF DREAM TEAM FEATURES:
- Who remembers when Daniel Sturridge was the best striker in Europe?
- 9 players who made big-money transfers before they were full internationals
- The year is 2024 and Wolves have just won their second successive Champions League trophy