Stats

While the statistics that attackers generate greatly lend themselves to the formulation of lists such as this, things get a little more ambiguous where defenders are concerned.

Big European clubs have a large war chest to use for summer and winter transfers (usually). This massive amount of money is used to either fill a void left by a player leaving, add players to complement the current team or to improve squad depth. 

Usually, the expensive signings are meant to move straight into the starting lineup. Sometimes, new signings don’t always settle or play well and can spend some time on the bench. Here are some players with a high transfer market value that're rarely getting game time.

Here are the most expensive players on the bench.

It was around this time last year that we introduced Bruno Zuculini to you, our weary audience, as the maddest lad of them all. The Argentine spent the first half of the 2017-18 season at Hellas Verona, collecting three red cards and four yellows in just 15 starts. He was promptly sold to River Plate before he could build on his phenomenal record over the following months.

The debate as to which footballer, at the height of their powers, reigned supreme will rage until the end of time. Pelé as a teenager? Diego Maradona at 26? O Fenômeno at 21? Take your pick and you’ll find more than enough evidence to support your claim.

But there’s never been anything like the consistent dominance of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo into their 30s. Yesterday, Messi notched his 400th league goal for Barcelona, making him sole-member of the club for players that’ve reached that milestone for one club in Europe’s top five leagues.