5 of the best transfer bargains in the history of modern football

In a world of inflated transfer fees, it is rather rare to find players moving to different clubs for just the right price. It gets even rarer to see them go for an absolute bargain.

The business of world football has seen an exponential rise, with money flowing in from multiple revenue streams like never before. Here's a look at five of the best ever transfer bargains.

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#5 Esteban Cambiasso to Internazionale

Esteban Cambiasso was a part of the Real Madrid squad that won the UEFA Super Cup in 2002 and he also helped Los Blancos reach the semi-finals of the Champions League the next season.

However, after racking up just nine starts in La Liga during the 2003/04 season, he was looking for a move away to better pastures.

The Bosman ruling kicked in and he was on his way to Italy to sign for Internazionale - for free.

Upon retirement in 2017, he revealed the reasoning behind his departure. "I understood clearly why I was going: I wasn't part of the sporting and economic model. It was unsustainable to have 6-7 of the best-paid players in the world and some had to leave."

A Coppa Italia during his first season with the club cemented his place within the squad. He soon became a regular in the defensive midfield position and was one of Roberto Mancini's best players. In his heyday, he was often regarded to be on the same level as AC Milan's Kaka.

In 2008, the enigmatic Jose Mourinho was appointed as the head coach of the Italian club. Cambiasso eventually became on his midfield generals, staring games with purpose as Mourinho's philosophy kicked into top-gear.

The 2009/2010 season was historic for the Italian club as they became only the sixth European club to complete the treble and the only Italian club to ever achieve this feat.

Cambiasso was crucial during the run-up and marked his presence by scoring a crucial goal in the run-up to the Champions League final.

His strike proved to be the difference, as Inter just brushed past Chelsea with a 2-1 victory in the semi-final.

He went on to make 315 league appearances and win 15 major trophies for the Italian side until he moved to Leicester City in 2014.

#4 Peter Schmeichel to Manchester United

Peter Schmeichel spent eight seasons at Manchester United

Described as 'the bargain of the century', the 6ft 3in goalkeeper needs no introduction. A legend in his own right, he moved from Danish side Brøndby for just £500,000 in 1991. A relatively small figure for someone who was a completely unknown figure in English football.

He was known for being an aggressive goalkeeper, never afraid to rush oncoming strikers and a regular to go-up for corner kicks when Manchester United tried to exploit 'Fergie-time'.

He even managed to score on a couple of occasions, a memorable one being produced in a Champions League tie against Rotor Volgograd at Old Trafford in 1995. His goal tied the game, but the Red Devils were on their way out of the competition regardless.

In the eight seasons he spent between the sticks at Old Trafford, he won five Premier League titles, three FA Cups and a Champions League.

Adored by the United faithful, he captained the side that won the infamous Treble in 1999. They wrapped up the Premier League by just a point over arch-rivals Arsenal and Schmeichel pulled off a crucial save in the FA Cup semi-final penalty-shootout, denying Arsenal's Dennis Bergkamp a goal and catapulting United into the final.

However, his crowning moment of glory came when he captained Ferguson's side in the Champions League final, due to the absence of Roy Keane.

It was a roller-coaster of a game with United winning the game in injury time, in what is often regarded as one of the greatest European nights ever.

After his move to Sporting CP, in search of a less hectic match schedule at the age of 36, it took Ferguson six years to find a replacement in the form of Edwin Van Der Sar.

A testament to an individual who was an absolute terror to face on the football pitch.

#3 Andre Pirlo to Juventus

Juventus went on to win four consecutive four Serie A titles with Pirlo

When Andrea Pirlo hit the age of 32, AC Milan decided that after 12 years of service, the player was no longer required and could hinder the introduction of young talent.

At the same time, Juventus had just handed Antonio Conte the managerial seat in 2011, and the Italian manager was quick to sign the legendary midfielder for free.

On March 2018, he disclosed why he felt like a move away from Milan was the right decision. "After a delicate moment, I arrived in a team that was serious and ambitious. They wanted to win and we did so. After 10 years at Milan, I needed new motivations and Juve gave me this...".

Pirlo turned out to be invaluable to the ambitious Italian manager. Completely written off by his former club, Pirlo found himself right at home, sitting in the middle of Conte's 3-5-2 formation as a deep-lying playmaker.

His ability to dictate tempo is unparalleled in European football and his composure on and off the ball helped the side progress up the pitch.

In total, he scored 19 goals in 164 appearances. 15 out of those were free-kicks, an ability he has been idolized for.

What followed was nothing short of catastrophic for Milan, as Juventus went on to win four successive Serie A titles with him to stomp their authority on domestic Italian football.

Pirlo's standout performances were lauded on the world stage and after five very successful years at the club, he moved to New York to play in the MLS.

#2 Robert Lewandowski to Bayern Munich

Lewandowski has been a vital cog in Bayern's recent success

In 2013, Polish hitman Robert Lewandowski was at the top of his game. He was easily regarded as one of the most prolific scorers in European football currently and was on the wish-list of a number of clubs.

Dortmund was hoping to make some money off his back but the striker had other ideas.

Some might say they deserved something, considering the lengths former Dortmund manager Jurgen Klopp went to.

The player was scouted over 30 times, with the current Liverpool manager traveling to Poznan in a cap and hood pulled over his head. No stone was left unturned to sign him for a measly £4 million transfer fee.

In November the same year, he signed a pre-contract with Bayern Munich and was to join their direct rivals for free. He was set to sign a new contract, but a dispute over wages meant that the Bosman ruling had the final say once again.

Having watched Mario Gotze leave to a direct rival probably struck him as well, considering that he was a vital part of a talented attacking trio consisting of Marco Reus too.

It was virtually unheard of for someone of his stature and age to move for nothing and he proved his worth.

The striker has been instrumental to their success since he joined, leading the team out with the confidence that the 'big man up-front' will pull a rabbit out of the hat to save them.

Fast-forward to current day, on March 31st, 2018 the Polish talisman scored a sensational hat-trick against Borrusia Dortmund, reminding them of what could have been theirs.

As the record stands, at the age of 29, he has a mammoth 150 goals in 194 games for the Bavarian giants.

#1 Raul to Real Madrid

Raul won six La Liga titles with Real Madrid

In 1992 Atletico Madrid's youth system was rich with future prospects and Raul Gonzalez Blanco was on top of that list.

However, the club was under serious financial constraints and in 1992 President Jesus GIll decided to dissolve the youth system as a cost-cutting measure.

A young Raul walked out to neighbor's Real Madrid and the fairy-tale begins here. At Real Madrid C, he scored 16 goals in seven games, prompting the manager at the time, Jorge Valdano to promote him to the senior side and make him the youngest player to play for the senior side at the age of 17 years and 124 days.

His time at the club saw him break records left, right and center. He was the first player to score 50 Champions league goal and also the first to make 100 appearances in the European tournament.

He won six La Liga titles with the club, including three European Cups and four more domestic cups.

The Spanish striker also had the privilege of captaining the most decorated club in European football. El Capitan, as he was affectionately called, was also honored with a lifetime contract along with Iker Casillas.

It stipulated that their contracts would be renewed annually if they played 30 matches a season.

228 goals in 550 appearances, the striker is a god in the eyes of the Los Blancos faithful. In 2010, he signed a two-year deal with German side Schalke, his final destination in Europe before moving elsewhere to carry on his legacy.