The 2021/22 summer football transfer window has been a roller coaster ride. The unimaginable unfolded before our eyes. Legends of the game like Lionel Messi and Sergio Ramos switched clubs for the first time. On the other hand, young prospects moved for astonishing amounts.
Even though the COVID-19 pandemic has pushed many teams to cut back on their expenses, the summer transfer window of 2021-22 saw some of the clubs break their banks to get their desired player. SportzPoint takes you through the top 5 craziest transfers of the summer transfer window.
#5 Romelo Lukaku (Inter Milan to Chelsea)
Romelo Lukaku made a Chelsea return after an excellent season with Inter Milan. Nobody ever expected Inter Milan to let go Lukaku after the season he had in Italy. The Belgian had an excellent run with Inter winning the Serie A and scoring 28 goals across all competitions.
Although he crashed out of the quarter-finals from the Euro, he had an outstanding season and is one of the top contenders for the Ballon d’Or 2021. However, Inter could not say no when they saw the huge offer from Chelsea. Finally, both the parties agreed on €115m making him one of the costliest transfers ever in the Premier League.
Also Read: Lukaku’s agent says the family was subjected to threats over the striker’s transfer to Chelsea
#4 Sergio Ramos (Real Madrid to PSG)
The man who bleeds Real Madrid and the one who has been there right from the start, Sergio Ramos had to move to PSG after the Los Blancos went against the idea of renewing his contract. It was like a nightmare in the Spanish capital after they came to know Ramos was joining PSG as a free agent.
PSG made headlines after they announced the signing of Sergio Ramos. The French giants are putting everything to get hands-on with the UEFA Champions League trophy. He will join the likes of Hakimi, Wijnaldum, Donnurumma and Messi in the dugout.
#3 Antoine Griezmann (FC Barcelona to Atletico Madrid)
One of the most shocking transfers of the Football transfer window 2021 if not the most shocking is FC Barcelona letting go Griezmann on loan. Barcelona was very keen on keeping the French international but on the deadline day they announced Griezmann is leaving for Atletico Madrid on loan with the Madrid club have an option to buy at €40m.
It was very unexpected for Barcelona as Antoine’s salary was one of the reasons they couldn’t keep Messi at the club. Moreover, giving a star player to the direct title rivals cost them once the earlier season and now they did the same thing again.
#2 Cristiano Ronaldo (Juventus to Manchester United)
Arguably one of the best players on the planet, Cristiano Ronaldo shook the football transfer window after he made a dramatic return to his former club. The English giants’ Manchester United signed the 36-year-old Portuguese from Juventus for €20m. Although Manchester City seemed the most likely destination for the forward; United put in a last-minute bid to ensure that Ronaldo doesn’t join their rivals.
Manchester United are now looking stronger than ever with Varane, Maguire in the backlines; a combo of Bruno, Pogba, Ronaldo and Sancho upfront. However, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City are equally strong if not more to win the Premier League title.
Also Read: Cristiano Ronaldo records for Manchester United
#1 Lionel Messi (FC Barcelona to PSG)
Lionel Messi to PSG will go down as one of the most disheartening transfer sagas of all time. People could hardly imagine Lionel Messi in any other colours than the Blaugrana. Although there were many reports of Messi’s contract renewal with FC Barcelona, no one could have predicted the end. Messi agreed to a 30% pay cut but it wasn’t enough to register his contract because they were still in breach of La Liga’s salary regulations.
Lionel Messi leaving Barcelona after playing for 17 years in the first team to join PSG has to be the craziest transfer in the summer football transfer window so far. However, Messi has joined a star-packed team and is the most likely team to win the UEFA Champions League.
