Real Madrid Will Have To Pay More Than Gareth Bale Transfer Fee To Sign Luis Suarez

If Spanish newspaper Marca is to be believed, Real Madrid is interested in signing Liverpool forward Luis Suarez. But if the UEFA Champions League winners want to sign the mercurial Uruguayan striker, the club will have to pay more what they paid for Gareth Bale last year.

In October 2013, Los Blancos president Florentino Perez confirmed that Bale cost the club €91 million euros (USD $123 million, £78 million). This means 2013 FIFA Ballon d’Or winner Cristiano Ronaldo is still the world’s most expensive player, costing €94 million (£80 million) when he transferred from Manchester United to Madrid in 2009. Marca reporter Juan Castro believes that Suarez’s clause in his contract is between 90-100 million euros. Arguments can be made for Suarez to cost more than Bale for what he’s accomplished in the past and the historic season he just had. The Uruguayan was suspended to begin the season but then scored 31 goals, leading the Premier League, in 33 appearances while also adding 12 assists. The 27-year-old matched the same thing Bale did in his last season for Spurs by winning PFA Players’ Player of the Year and FWA Footballer of the Year but he also helped guarantee Champions League football by Liverpool finishing second in the league.

Others may counter that Cristiano and Bale were younger when Real Madrid got them, both were 24-years-old, and that they are more marketable plus had more potential when they came to the Spanish capital. Bale made one of the greatest plays ever to score and beat hated rival Barcelona 2-1 in the Copa del Ray. The next month he scored the go-ahead goal in the Champions League final, after playing poorly mostly of the match, over city enemy Atletico Madrid as his squad eventually won 4-1 in extra time. Bale ended the year with 22 goals in 44 appearances while learning a new position as he was moved to the right side of the midfield and as a right winger.

Madrid can use improvements but striker isn’t one of them as Karim Benzema with youngsters Alvaro Morata and Jese proved to play very well for the 32-time La Liga champions. President Perez needs to focus on goalkeeper as Iker Casillas and Diego Lopez are past their primes and a replacement for Xavi Alonso as Asier Illarramendi is decent but doesn’t seem to have the class for follow a legend.

After finally capturing La Decima, Madrid are on cloud nine and plan to add more Galacticos as they attempt to make a dynasty. Suarez would be an excellent addition but the club should focus elsewhere.