1-Real Madrid (€250 million)
Okay... let's just cut to the chase. I didn't put them at #1 because it seems some of this summer splish splash seems to overlap. The game only uses one ball - both Kaká and Cristiano Ronaldo like it at their feet. Will they mesh into a super-combo or step on each other's feet until one is disgruntled?
I'm also not convinced that Karim Benzema plays enough to immediately justify his price tag and we all know how quickly the Galacticos can become bored - especially with Ramon Calderon back in charge. Still, it cannot be denied that they've charged up the attack, added a long needed midfield fulcrum extraordinaire in Xabi Alonso, and rejuvenated the wingback spots with Raúl Albiol and Álvaro Arbeloa.
It was impressive and jaw-dropping, but I don't think it will bring them league silver. That's why they didn't make it to #1.
2-Manchester City (€140 million)
For the second straight summer, paper was flying out of Eastlands. This time, the new Citizens include a brand new three-headed goal monster of quite varied styles (Emmanuel Adebayor, Roque Santa Cruz & Carlos Tévez), a brand new center back tandem with loads of experience (Joleon Lescott & Kolo Touré) and a brand new traffic director (Gareth Barry).
On Citeh's best days ahead, that will likely count for about half their match participants - five starters and a strike sub. If you scoop half a legit Premier League line-up sheet in one summer, you've done rather well. The question is: will they be rather good or will they be great?
3-Barcelona (€110 million)
Sure, they had the least to do, and the Zlatan Ibrahimovic move directly swaps out the loss of Sanuel Eto'o positionally. It was a bold move, with the club obviously looking for a new level of winning entertainment.
Lost in the shuffle a bit was the double shot of vinegar given to the left half of Barcelona's defense with the arrivals of Shakhtar Donetsk hero Dmytro Chygrynskiy and Zlatan's former Ajax teammate, Maxwell. And don't forget: they also plucked Keirrison for what will one day be seen as the bargain price of €16 million before shipping him out on loan to Benfica.
4-Bayern Munich (€80 million)
Let's face it: this club needed an overhaul. They realized this early, clinching deals for Alexander Baumjohann, Ivica Olic (both on free transfers) and Anatoliy Tymoschuk before last season had ended. Suddenly, the midfield and flank attack were stronger as a head start.
Once the summer window opened, Mario Gomez flew into bolster the strike force - though I'll admit to feeling they could have done a little better for the price paid. Danijel Pranjic then arrived, adding zip to anywhere along the left side. Finally, Bayern plucked the biggest prize; it says here Arjen Robben justifies every bit of that €25 million fee under Louis van Gaal.
5-Inter Milan (€80 million)
The Nerazzurri felt even less pressure than Barcelona to bulk up from a technical standpoint, but Mourinho wants to play at the big Champions League table. Eto'o is more than an adequate replacement for Zlatan as a goal scorer and Inter also plucked a companion big forward in Diego Milito. And yeah, they overpaid for him and Thiago Motta, but both bring a solid presence in the crowded areas of the pitch.
The Serie A holders also nabbed a young attacker Marko Arnautovic - some have dubbed him "the new Zlatan" even though he is more likely to try and spell the retired Luis Figo out wide. We saved the best two, however, for last. Veteran winner Lúcio adds a little something extra to play out of the back, while Wesley Sneijder finally gives Inter a real powerhouse #10. This team is finally ready for a glamour scrap.
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