In 2002, Ronaldo Nazário (aka The "Real" Ronaldo) was signed for €46 million by Real Madrid. Now, Los Blancos have had to pay €45 million for a 16-year-old, Vinicius Junior.
The player's values have gone up a lot more than what one would have thought. A few seasons ago, Sir Alex Ferguson refused to pay over £30 million to sign the highly rated, Lucas Moura.
But now, for £30 million, you will get a mediocre player. Here are five transfer records that are highly likely to be broken this summer:
#5 - Record fee for a goalkeeper
While most of the transfer records are recent ones, this is one that has been held by Buffon for a long time.
Juventus paid £32 million to sign the goalkeeper from Parma in 2001, and that has been the world record for a goalkeeper. Nobody has come close to breaking it even once.
However, things are going to change soon. Ederson Moraes is set to join Manchester City for £45 million in the coming days according to reliable sources.
By the end of the transfer window, that might not be the record! Real Madrid are keen on signing David de Gea, and Manchester United are demanding £60 million for him. Unless Los Blancos agree a 'player + cash' deal with the Red Devils, the Spaniard will become the costliest goalkeeper ever.
#4 - World Record transfer fee
When Manchester United paid £89 million to sign Paul Pogba last summer, everyone questioned the move. Was he really worth that much? That signing was more of a statement signing by the Red Devils rather than anything else as they wanted to show the world what they are capable of despite not having Champions League.
This summer, that record is set to be broken. It's going to be the transfer window in which the first ever £100 million+ signing will be made.
Kylian Mbappe is the player who is in the limelight with both Manchester City and Real Madrid interested in paying 'anything' to get him. Both clubs have reportedly made a €130 million (£113 million) bid for him already!
With rumours of Griezmann moving to United for £86 million and Aubameyang to PSG for £83 million, Cristiano Ronaldo will not even be in the top 5 costliest transfers of all time!
#3 - Highest bid reject
When one thinks of world record bids and transfers, it's usually Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain or Manchester City that comes to mind. But the highest official bid rejected does not belong to them. Was it Chelsea, Barcelona or Manchester United? No. Get ready to be surprised.
The highest ever bid rejected is by Borussia Dortmund, and Arsenal made the bid. The Gunners made a €90 million bid for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Borussia Dortmund rebuffed the move straight away.
The record has already been broken according to rumours. Real Madrid have had a €120 million bid rejected for Kylian Mbappe by AS Monaco.
However, there is no official confirmation of this just yet. Monaco are not ready to sell Mbappe this summer, and with Manchester City and Real Madrid making astronomical bids, one of them is bound to be rejected.
#2 - Record fee for a defender
Paris Saint-Germain paid a whopping £50 million to sign David Luiz from Chelsea in 2014. Manchester City, last summer, matched the transfer record when they signed John Stones from Everton.
That record is set to be shattered this transfer window with rumours of Real Madrid and Manchester City again chasing Leonardo Bonucci. The Juventus defender is valued at £60 million, and both the clubs are willing to pay the asking price.
With all the 3 'super-rich' clubs, Real Madrid, Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain planning a squad overhaul this summer, it's a hardly a surprise that such transfers are going to happen.
#1 - Record fee for a teenager
If Mbappe ends up joining Real Madrid for a world record fee, it will also break another record. The striker is just 18-years-old, so if he is signed for anything above £36 million, he is bound to become the costliest teenager ever!
Apart from that, there is one more record Mbappe will break. The highest fee paid for an 18-year-old. The one's who'll be angry the most if Mbappe joins Madrid is Manchester United.
The Red Devils currently hold the record for the highest fee paid for a teenage, Anthony Martial and also the highest fee paid for an 18-year-old, Luke Shaw.
