The Premier League is usually renowned for the extravagant salaries and transfer fees paid by every club. However, recent research has shown that while taking a look at the highest-paid player across each season of the Premier League, the historic great, Cristiano Ronaldo is not the highest earner in its history.
Cristiano Ronaldo is a multimillionaire and one of the greatest soccer players of all time. Many would have him as the first name to pop up when thinking about the highest earner across the league. Cristiano Ronaldo reportedly earned around $600,000-a-week (£480,000) during his second stint at Manchester United.
But after finding out who was the highest earner during the Premier League era, it seemed a quite shock. The highest earner was none other than the former teammate of Cristiano Ronaldo itself, the Welsh winger, Gareth Bale.
🚨 The highest paid players in every Premier League season:
💰 1992/93: John Barnes – £10,000-a-week
💰 1993/94: John Barnes – £10,000-a-week
💰 1994/95: Eric Cantona – £18,000-a-week
💰 1995/96: Dennis Bergkamp – £25,000-a-week
💰 1996/97: Fabrizio Ravanelli -… pic.twitter.com/EfjRuT3JWW
— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) December 13, 2023
Back in the season of 2020/21, Gareth Bale returned to the Premier League on a loan deal to Tottenham Hotspur from the Spanish giants, Real Madrid. With the majority of pay being provided by the Spanish team, Gareth Bale during his second spell with Spurs reportedly earned around $700,000 a week (£560,000).
With Real Madrid usually known to be a club where just global stars play, it is understandable why Gareth Bale was the highest earner during this time. Even though Cristiano Ronaldo ain’t the highest earner during this time, he is still the second-highest earner in the league’s history.
Gareth Bale’s record in his highest-earning season
In 2020, Gareth Bale returned to Tottenham Hotspur after a six-year stint at Real Madrid. The move was met with immense excitement, with fans dreaming of Bale rediscovering his magical form in the familiar surroundings of North London.
Bale’s return was initially hampered by injuries and fitness concerns. He managed only 34 appearances in all competitions, scoring 16 goals and registering 3 assists. However, his impact went beyond the numbers. His flashes of brilliance, and trademark long-range strikes, reminded everyone of the world-class player he once was.
Initially, across his first spell at Tottenham, Gareth Bale was thought to be the sole force of the Spurs attack. But across his return to North London, he had some big names alongside, with the likes of Harry Kane, and Heung-min Son delivering by his side as well.
Overall, Bale’s return season to Spurs can be considered a mixed bag. While he didn’t reach the expectations of his first stint at the club, his impact on and off the field cannot be denied. His goals, assists, and infectious enthusiasm were valuable assets for Spurs, adding a spark and dimension to their attack.
Bale’s return season was a reminder of his talent and the special connection he has with the Spurs. It was a crucial chapter in his career as he retired a few years after his loan spell.