Paris
The world transfer record was broken three times in the past decade and billions has been spent by the world’s top clubs in the pursuit of silverware.
But who were the best signings of the past 10 years? We start off at the very beginning of the decade in June 2010, when Manchester City brought in one of the most influential players of their modern era: David Silva.
The diminutive Spaniard, known as the Magician, has been integral to City’s success, and it looks like he might start the next decade with David Beckham’s Inter Miami.
Next up it’s Eden Hazard, who came to Chelsea from Lille for £32m in 2012. In seven years in London, the Belgian won two Premier League and two Europa League titles and was undoubtedly one of the best players in the league.
Chelsea got the best years out of him then sold him to Real Madrid for around four times what they paid.
And speaking of big money, Neymar made his much anticipated move to Europe in 2013, and went on to form part of the greatest attacking trio of modern times with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez.
Barcelona did well to beat everyone else to his signature, and even better to sell him for an eye-watering €222m!
The greatest free transfer of the decade, meanwhile, is indisputably Robert Lewandowski, who made his controversial move from Borussia Dortmund to Bayern Munich in 2014.
The Pole might be the best No.9 of the decade, and it is criminal that he hasn’t done better in Ballon d’Or voting.
And finally, it’s the transfer that has made Liverpool world champions: the arrival of Virgil Van Dijk. The Dutchman cost a hefty £75m in 2017, but he has completely solidified the Reds’ defence and in turn made Jurgen Klopp’s team world beaters.
More importantly, Liverpool beat Manchester City to his signature—just imagine how far ahead of the pack Pep Guardiola’s side would be if they had signed him instead.
His signing was crucial to Liverpool and the shape of soccer at the top of the European game right now. So that’s our list of the most important signings of the decade – who did we miss? Luka Modric or Toni Kroos to Real Madrid? Leonardo Bonucci to Juventus perhaps? Radamel Falcao to Atletico Madrid?—AFP
