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Serie A is one of Europe's top five leagues. Although not as popular and competitive as some of its other counterparts, the Italian top flight has attracted many top players over the years.
The likes of Marco Van Basten, Ronaldo Nazario, Zinedine Zidane, Paolo Maldini, Gianluigi Buffon, and more recently Cristiano Ronaldo and Georgio Chiellini have graced the competition.
Traditionally, Italian clubs have splurged less money, but the trend has changed in the last few years. Juventus spent a fortune to land Ronaldo (€117 million), Gonzalo Higuain (€90 million) and Matthijs de Ligt (€75 million). Inter Milan dished out €74 million for Romelu Lukaku, while Napoli became invested €75 million in Victor Osimhen.
Unsurprisingly, big-name players also have huge wages. While not all of the aforementioned players are still playing in Serie A, there are handsome earners galore in the Italian top flight. On that note, here's a look at the five players with the most wages (after tax) in Serie A at the moment:
Source: Calcio e Finanza (via Football Italia).
#5 Zlatan Ibrahimovic (four-time Serie A winner) - €134,615 per week
Zlatan Ibrahimovic has had a successful stint in the Italian top flight. Still going strong at the age of 40, the Swede has amassed over 150 goals in the competition for three different clubs.
Currently in his second spell with AC Milan, the four-time winner has struck eight times this season, helping the Rossoneri to second place in the league table. He is contracted to Milan until the end of the ongoing season.
With reported wages of €7 million per year, Ibrahimovic is well ahead of the next best-paid Milan player.
Ibrahimovic recently joined Ronaldo and Messi as the only players to score 300 goals in Europe's top five leagues.
#4 Adrien Rabiot (2020 Serie A winner) - €134,615 per week
Adrien Rabiot arrived at Juventus with much fanfare in the summer of 2019. However, the six-time Ligue 1 winner has struggled to have the expected impact, despite playing almost 80 top-flight games for the Bianconeri.
He has played 17 league games this season, and is contracted with Juventus till 2023. However, the 2020 Serie A winner could be sold by the club if they get the right price.
A combination of poor form, questionable attitude and injuries have meant that Rabiot never endeared himself to the Juventus faithful.
#3 Aaron Ramsey (2020 Serie A winner) - €134,615 per week
Aaron Ramsey is another top earner in Serie A. The Juventus midfielder reportedly earns €7 million per year at the club.
Ramsey arrived in Turin on a free transfer at the end of the 2018-19 season. However, his performances have been modest at best - 11 goal contributions (five goals, six assists) in 11 league games. Injuries and poor form have meant he hasn't become a regular starter at the club.
This season, under Massimiliano Allegri, the Welshman has become a peripheral figure in Turin. Having made just five appearances across competitions, Ramsey is clearly not in the plans of Allegri, who recently confirmed that the 31-year old is an 'outgoing player'.
A return to the Premier League this month appears to be on the anvil for the former Arsenal player. However, Ramsey has reportedly 'rejected' three Premier League and two La Liga teams, which has 'irritated' Juventus, who are looking to offload the player.
#2 Paulo Dybala (five-time Serie A winner) - €140,384 per week
Paulo Dybala has been one of the few shining lights in Juventus' dismal 2021-22 Serie A campaign.
Currently playing his ninth season in the Italian top flight, the 28-year-old is on the cusp of 100 goals in the competition. Dybala has bagged seven goals and three assists this season for the Bianconeri, who are fifth in the league standings after 22 games.
The Argentine remains a key player for Allegri, especially after Ronaldo's departure last summer. However, Dybala, who runs out of contract this season, is frustrated that the club hasn't yet offered him a formal contract extension.
The player reportedly wants a better deal, but Juventus want him to take a pay cut, considering his patchy injury record. If Dybala remains firm on his stance, the Bianconeri could let him go for free at the end of the season.
#1 Matthijs de Ligt (2020 Serie A winner) - €153,846 per week
Matthijs de Ligt is widely regarded as one of the best young goalscoring centre-backs in the game at the moment.
The 22-year-old former Ajax captain has made over 70 league appearances for Juventus, scoring six goals and assisting two. More importantly, the 2020 Serie A winner has been a regular at the defensive end for the Bianconeri.
De Ligt, who is considered an 'untouchable' player by Juventus, is contracted to the club until 2024.
The Netherlands international will look to play a key role as Juventus mount an unlikely Serie A title challenge. They currently trail league leaders Inter Milan by nine points, having played one game more.
