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#3 Marcelo (Real Madrid) - £266,000 per week
Marcelo has been an exceptional player for Real Madrid. He is one of the best Brazilian players of his generation and the left-back is a generational talent. Marcelo was a crucial part of the Real Madrid side that won four Champions League titles in the last decade.
However, his best days are well behind him and the 33-year-old has become a bit of a liability at Real Madrid. Perhaps giving him a lucrative new contract in 2017 wasn't a great decision. Marcelo has become a peripheral figure at the club and started just 12 games in La Liga last term.
But he still takes home £266,000 per week and Real Madrid will be happy to have him off their books when his current contract expires next summer.
#2 Raphael Varane (Manchester United) - £340,000 per week
Manchester United signed Raphael Varane from Real Madrid this summer for a sum of £36 million. A Rolls-Royce defender, Varane has already had an illustrious career and he is still only 28-years-old.
The Frenchman is widely considered to be one of the best defenders of his generation. He won three La Liga titles, four Champions League titles and four FIFA Club World Cups with Real Madrid during his 10-year stint at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Varane was the first-choice centre-back for the French side as they won the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He possesses great pace, is physically imposing and excellent with the ball at his feet. Varane is one of the most intelligent centre-backs on the planet.
#1 David Alaba (Real Madrid) - £375,000 per week
Well, one thing's for sure and it's that Real Madrid have great taste in defenders. They have consistently housed some of the best defenders in the world and David Alaba is the latest addition to that list.
The Austrian international had become one of the most sought-after players last season after it became apparent he wouldn't be extending his contract with Bayern Munich. The 29-year-old is one of the most versatile players in the world.
His primary position used to be at left-back but he plays as a central midfielder for his national team. Alaba made the transition to centre-back in his final years at Bayern Munich and has played in a number of positions for Real Madrid so far this term.
He pockets a whopping £375,000 per week which makes him the highest paid defender in the world.
