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Another summer transfer window has drawn to a close. Football fans across the globe are in agreement that this has been the most exciting summer transfer window in a very long time.
We've seen some of the biggest stars in the world change clubs. Two of the greatest of all time, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi, made high-profile switches this summer. Due to the financial issues caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, clubs have been open to selling players like never before.
We've witnessed an incredible number of transfer sagas unfolding over the last three months. Transfer deadline day lived up to its billing and there was no shortage of excitement or surprises in the final hours of the window.
As is the case with every transfer window, there are winners and losers. Here, we take a look at five clubs that can walk away from this transfer window knowing they've done a great job.
#5 Atletico Madrid
Atletico Madrid just about manages to make the list thanks to their acquisition of Antoine Griezmann in the closing stages of the transfer window. It's a deal that speaks volumes of how poorly Barcelona's finances have been managed in recent times.
Barcelona signed Griezmann just two summers back for €120 million. The Catalans have had to part ways with Messi this summer and have now offloaded their second best attacker on a season-long loan deal worth €10 million. Of course, the Rojiblancos have an obligation to make the deal permanent at the end of the season for €40 million.
It is a horrible deal for Barcelona, who had taken out loans to sign Griezmann in 2019. But such is their financial situation that they had to absolutely axe the best players on their payroll. Atletico Madrid also get points for signing Rodrigo De Paul, one of the best box-to-box midfielders in the world.
Atletico secured his services for €35 million and for the quality he brings, it is a bargain price. Their third big signing is Matheus Cunha from Hertha Berlin. The Brazilian attacker can play in any position across the frontline and was signed on a deal worth €25 million.
He had scored seven goals and provided five assists in 27 appearances in the Bundesliga last term. 20-year-old Brazilian winger Marcos Paulo was signed on a free transfer and Benjamin Lecomte has been brought in as a backup goalkeeper on a loan deal.
Saul Niguez's departure to Chelsea on deadline day will lessen their depth in midfield but the player was no longer a starter at Atletico.
#4 Real Madrid
Real Madrid were desperate to get the Kylian Mbappe deal over the line in the closing stages of the summer transfer window. But they couldn't pull it off. However, they landed promising young central midfielder Eduardo Camavinga from Rennes on a deadline day deal worth €30 million.
Real Madrid got off to a great start to the summer transfer window by securing David Alaba's services on a free transfer. Although the departure of 35-year-old Sergio Ramos can be viewed as a big blow, the club has a sufficient number of quality personnel at the back.
Raphael Varane was also sold to Manchester United on a deal worth €40 million. They raised a further €35 million through the sale of Martin Odegaard to Arsenal as well. Real Madrid, in fact, have registered a net profit of about €44 million this transfer window.
#3 Manchester United
Some sections of the Manchester United fanbase are still furious about the fact that the club did not sign a defensive midfielder this summer. It is understandable because the club does need a better technician in midfield who can connect defence and attack.
But going into the transfer window, Manchester United's priorities were signing a centre-back and a right-winger. They've signed two great players for those positions. Raphael Varane is a world-class signing at centre-back. They signed him on a deal worth €40million.
Jadon Sancho is one of the best young wingers in the world and was signed for €85 million. To cap it off, the Red Devils brought Cristiano Ronaldo for €15 million on a surprise deal that sent the United fanbase into meltdown. It's the kind of signing that could transform them into title challengers.
Manchester United have also signed goalkeeper Tom Heaton on a free transfer. The Red Devils offloaded Daniel James to Leeds United for €30 million on deadline day. They've also shipped out some of their most promising youngsters on loan. These include Tahith Chong, Facundo Pellistri, Axel Tuanzebe, Andreas Pereira and Brandon Williams.
#2 Chelsea
Champions League winners Chelsea only had a few issues to address in the summer transfer window. They needed a proven goalscorer as they couldn't rely on the inconsistent Timo Werner. The Blues went and signed Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan on a deal worth €115 million.
Lukaku has been phenomenal for Inter Milan over the past couple of seasons. He scored 64 goals and provided 16 assists in 95 appearances for the Nerazzuri over the span of two seasons. Lukaku scored on his debut for Chelsea to show just how inspired a signing he could go on to become.
The Blues then bolstered their midfield department on deadline day by signing Saul Niguez on loan from Atletico Madrid. They have incredible depth in central midfield now. But what has truly elevated Chelsea's transfer activity above their peers is their sales department.
Chelsea sold Tammy Abraham, Kurt Zouma, Fikayo Tomori, Davide Zappacosta, Victor Moses and Olivier Giroud and raised nearly €120 million through their sales. AC Milan took Tiemoue Bakayoko on loan for a fee of €2 million as well. Kenedy, Emerson Palmieri and Michy Batshuayi are the other players who have been sent on loan by Chelsea.
#1 Paris Saint-Germain
Paris Saint-Germain already had a star-studded squad heading into the 2021 summer transfer window. But they have come away from it having added half a dozen superstars to their roster. They've also managed to retain the services of Kylian Mbappe for another year by fending off interest from Real Madrid.
Though they run the risk of losing Mbappe on a free transfer next summer, the club can afford to dream bigger than any other outfit in Europe this season. PSG have signed Lionel Messi, Sergio Ramos, Gianluigi Donnarumma and Georginio Wijnaldum on free transfers this summer.
They have made Danilo Pereira's deal permanent for €16 million. PSG also addressed their right-back problem by signing Achraf Hakimi, the most promising young right-back in the world. The deal cost them €60 million.
They've also signed 18-year-old left-back Nuno Mendes on loan from Sporting Lisbon. The Parisiens have paid €7 million in loan fee to the Portuguese club.
PSG sold left-back Mitchel Bakker to Bayer Leverkusen for €7 million. Alphonse Areola has been sent on loan to West Ham United for a fee of €2 million. All in all, it's been a great transfer window for the Parisiens.
