Everyone knows football transfers have been going nuts since AC Milan paid £1m for Luther Blissett in 1983, and there has been no let-up in recent years as the biggest clubs in the world (and Zenit St Petersburg) throw cash around like there’s no tomorrow.
So here we take a look at some of the most expensive players who will feature in the World Cup in Brazil – can any of them show they are really worth it?
1. Cristiano Ronaldo – Manchester United to Real Madrid, £80m
Arguably the best player in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo has blasted Real Madrid to Champions League glory this season with 17 goals in just 11 appearances in Europe’s premier club competition.
Whether he can have a similar effect on Portugal’s chances of success in Brazil is open to question, but we certainly can’t see it.
2. Edinson Cavani – Napoli to Paris Saint-Germain, £55m
With Uruguay’s main man Luis Suarez struggling to recover from knee surgery in time for the World Cup (feel free to wait until after the England game to get yourself fit, Luis), Edinson Cavani has the chance to shine in Brazil.
Whilst he is not as talented as his compatriot Suarez, Cavani certainly knows how to find the net and England defenders had better have their wits about them when they face him.
3. Radamel Falcao – Atletico Madrid to Monaco, £51m
Colombian striker Falcao sustained anterior cruciate ligament damage in January and he might well miss out on the World Cup altogether.
He has been included in the squad, however, and coach Jose Pekerman said he will wait until the last minute to decide whether to take the Monaco man. If they are to have a good tournament they could certainly do with him.
4. Fernando Torres – Liverpool to Chelsea, £50m
Perhaps the biggest flop on the list so far, Fernando Torres has not been able to live up to his £50m price tag since moving to Chelsea from Liverpool, but he always seems to deliver for his country and scored in the finals of Euro 2008 and Euro 2012 (both of which Spain won).
This is likely to be his last World Cup so can he help fire his country to glory once again?
5. Neymar – Santos to Barcelona, £48.6m
Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior – let’s just call him Neymar – won the 2011 South American Footballer of the Year award and is one of a handful of true stars on which Brazil’s hopes of home World Cup glory rest.
Whether the Barcelona starlet it able to live up to the hype on the greatest footballing stage of them all remains to be seen, but if he does he could light up the tournament.
6. Mesut Ozil – Real Madrid to Arsenal, £42.4m
Lauded as the answer to all Arsenal’s problems, the signing of German ace Mesut Ozil signified the first time Arsene Wenger was prepared to open his chequebook really wide.
He started well before tailing off a little, but a decent World Cup with Die Mannschaft could be just the thing to get him firing on all cylinders for the Gunners next season.
7. James Rodriguez – Porto to Monaco, £38.5m
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James Rodriguez is one of the best young playmakers in the game at present and the 22-year-old Colombian could shine at the World Cup in Brazil if things go his way.
8. Sergio Aguero – Atletico Madrid to Manchester City, £38m
Manchester City’s top striker has the chance to link up with Lionel Messi in Brazil to form a partnership that will scare the pants off even the best defenders in the World Cup.
Perhaps one of the best value signings on this list, Aguero’s poise and precision in front of goal could see Argentina go all the way.
9. Juan Mata – Chelsea to Manchester United, £37.1m
A rare Manchester United signing last season saw Juan Mata leave Chelsea – where he was being inexplicably overlooked by Jose Mourinho – to try to salvage David Moyes’ flagging United career.
It didn’t work as Moyes was sacked, but Mata put in some impressive performances and though he might not start many games in Brazil, he has the skill and creativity to make a difference when he joins the action.
10. Hulk – Porto to Zenit St Petersburg, £35.5m
Arguably the best name in world football, Brazil fans will be hoping Hulk is incredible this summer and can fire the home nation to World Cup glory.