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After the conclusion of Neymar's controversial transfer saga from Barcelona to PSG back in the summer, the impact of release clauses in the transfer market reached dizzying heights. The Brazilian star paid €222 million, which he received from PSG to terminate his contract with Barcelona.
Although a release clause is rarely inserted into the contracts of players in other leagues, it is a rule in La Liga that every player should have one and many of the biggest players in world football ply their trade in Spain.
Here is a list of the players whose release clause is absolutely insane.
#5 Marco Asensio (Real Madrid) - €700 million
A player who is predicted to be a Ballon d'or contender in the near future definitely deserves a release clause that keeps him away from prying clubs.
Source: www.ibtimes.co.uk/marco-asensio-agrees-real-madrid-deal-700m-release-clause-following-barcelona-summer-links-1641225
Asensio signed from Mallorca in 2014 as one of the hottest prospects in Spain and has since only grown in stature. The 22-year-old had a breakthrough season last year and was rightly rewarded with a sumptuous Contract extension
The forward can play in a variety of positions up front and on the wing, and is known for his knack of scoring extraordinary goals. He has great pace and dribbling, two prime assets that every winger needs.
It is safe to say that the Los Blancos have a gem on their hands and will be looking forward to keep him for a long time.
#4 Isco (Real Madrid) - €700 million
As arguably one of the best attacking midfielders in the game and as a player who keeps the rumour mills churning out stories about him during every transfer window, Isco has earned the massive release clause that has been inserted into his contract.
Source:
www.marca.com/en/football/real-madrid/2017/09/14/59ba87bbe5fdeaf1218b45a1.html
A key member of the Real Madrid squad that became the first team to defend the Champions League title last season, Isco signed from Malaga in 2013 after he won the prestigious Golden Boy award. Since then, he has won every trophy possible at the club level.
The 25-year-old has been linked to clubs like Manchester United, Bayern Munich and Arsenal in the past and Real Madrid will have a hard time keeping their prized player.
#3 Lionel Messi (Barcelona) - €700 Million
Probably the greatest player to go down in history, and after watching helplessly as his teammate's release clause was triggered, Barcelona's first priority was to make Messi's release clause unpayable by any team in the world.
Source: metro.co.uk/2017/11/25/lionel-messi-finally-ends-speculation-over-his-future-by-signing-new-barcelona-contract-7107713
After making fans wait anxiously as he entered the final year of his contract, the Argentine finally signed an extension at the end of 2017.
Messi has been a one club man and made his debut way back in 2004 and has since gone on to win every possible trophy with the club, including two historic trebles.
Known for his exquisite ball controlling ability, finishing and dribbling, Messi is a perfect example and role model for other aspiring wingers, and footballers in general. Now in the prime of his career, everyone is anxious about what more he can achieve.
#2 Karim Benzema (Real Madrid) - €1 Billion
Another vital member of one of Real Madrid's greatest ever squads, Karim Benzema has been Zidane's preferred striker for a while now. The Frenchman signed a new contract last year, which put his release clause at this staggering amount.
Source: https://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/856524/Real-Madrid-Karim-Benzema-Contract-Release-Clause-One-Billion
Signed from Lyon in 2009, the 30-year-old has spent most of his senior career at Real Madrid, raking up 126 goals in 263 appearances for the club.
Benzema has all the characteristics of a top striker- good physicality, good finishing and his hold up play is excellent and allows other forwards to flourish. Despite his poor run of form lately, he would go straight into the starting XI of several top teams. He still has a few years left to perform at the top level and will be looking to make the most of it.
#1 Cristiano Ronaldo (Real Madrid) - €1 Billion
Considered to be the best ever by several pundits, Ronaldo has proven people wrong time and again. The Portuguese has had a £886 million release clause for a few years now according to his agent, Jorge Mendes's statement in 2015.
Source: www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2937608/Cristiano-Ronaldo-1BILLION-release-clause-admits-super-agent-Jorge-Mendes
The five time Ballon d'or winner left Manchester United for Real Madrid in 2009 and has not looked back since then, going on to win a host of trophies along with innumerable individual laurels.
A complete player in every sense of the word, Ronaldo has pace, power, agility and strength as his main attributes. He has scored goals of all forms in his long spanning career.
Now at the age of 33, He is at the end of his prime years but is still hungry for more. Ronaldo recently said that he is very happy at Real Madrid, so it will be interesting to see what path his career takes from here.
