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Nine Footballers Have A Bigger Release Clause Than Philippe Coutinho

Nine Footballers Have A Bigger Release Clause Than Philippe Coutinho

The second most expensive player in the world is still a fair way behind some of the world's best players

Joe Baiamonte

Joe Baiamonte

While Philippe Coutinho may be the world's second most expensive footballer in history, the Brazilian is still some way behind the top of the list when it comes to release clauses.

The former Liverpool playmaker completed his £142 million move to Barcelona today and will wear the number 14 shirt at the Camp Nou, the same number the Brazilian's hero Johan Cruyff wore.


Coutinho's new contract in Catalonia contains a release clause worth a staggering £355 million. So just the £213 million more than Barca paid for his services. Who knows, maybe Paris Saint-Germain will generate that profit for the La Liga giants in the same way they did for Neymar, last summer.





However, as gargantuan as Coutinho's release clause may seem, there are nine players who currently sit ahead of the Brazil international in the largest release clause league table, and eight of them are currently plying their trade for Barcelona's most loathed rival, Real Madrid.



Top of the pile, unsurprisingly, is Cristiano Ronaldo, who is the owner of a staggering £886 million release clause, that is also matched by Karim Benzema, who recently inked a new deal at the Bernabeu.

Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates
Cristiano Ronaldo celebrates


Benzema
Benzema

Ronaldo and Benzema - A Bargain at £886 million each. Images: PA

Behind the forward duo, Isco is valued at £620 million by Los Blancos, as is Marco Asensio, while former Tottenham pair Gareth Bale and Luka Modric could set potential buyers back as much as £443 million. As indeed could German international Toni Kroos and summer arrival Dani Ceballos.

Coutinho's £355 million clause is just a million more than one of his new Barcelona teammates, Ousmane Dembele, who arrived at the Camp Nou in a £135 million deal from Borussia Dortmund, during the summer transfer window. The 20-year-old French winger has a £354 million clause written into his contract.

Ousmane Dembele
Ousmane Dembele

The £135 million man would cost potential buyers considerably more than that now he's a Barcelona player. Image: PA
Will any of the players on this ever see their clauses matched by a club, though?

Featured Image Credit: PA

Topics: Football News, FC Barcelona, Football, Philippe Coutinho, La Liga