Manchester United completed three of the top-10 most expensive international transfers in 2021.
Having finished as runners-up to Manchester City in the Premier League last season, key figures in the Old Trafford boardroom issued a triple statement of intent; signing Jadon Sancho, Raphael Varane and returning five-time Ballon d'Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo.
A move four years in the making, Sancho returned to the UK after Borussia Dortmund finally agreed to sanction his £72.9million switch, while Varane cost United an initial £34million from Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Ronaldo was comparatively cheap as he touched down for a second act after 12 years with Real and Juventus.
Indeed, the Portugal captain was not one of the biggest outlays for United last year - in terms of a transfer fee.
Their final place on this particular list goes to Ivory Coast starlet Amad.
Having progressed through the Atalanta system, the 19-year-old traded Italy for England last January in a deal that cost United around £20million. Fast forward 12 months and the winger is expected to complete a loan move to the Championship during the ongoing mid-season window.
As it has on wider society, Covid-19 has had a significant impact on elite sport and transfer market outlays.
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Despite that, United were still able to splash out well over £150 million last year as neighbours City also broke the nine figure barrier to sign £100million man Jack Grealish from Aston Villa - although he does not feature on this list on account of that being a domestic transfer.
Romelu Lukaku tops the charts after his £97.5million move from Inter Milan to Chelsea.
United feature three times in the top-10 and seven of the deals involve Premier League clubs.
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