Bellingham and Vinícius benefit from Mbappé's monster Real Madrid salary

Real Madrid, more than any other club on the planet, have a reputation for superstar signings. From the first Galáctico era at the turn of the century to the famous Ronaldo-Benzema-Bale trident that delivered four Champions League titles, Florentino Perez always manages to attract the world’s best.

The current squad is no different, with Kylian Mbappé recently added to to the likes of Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior in the attacking areas. The arrival of Mbappé adds the elite number nine that Madrid were lacking last year but does pose a difficult question for head coach Carlo Ancelotti. How do you retain team harmony when the new signing is immediately handed a stratospheric €15 million annual salary, more than anyone at the club earns?

Simple, just give others more money too. OK Diario has reported that Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior have received a significant wage increase as a result of Mbappe’s arrival. Both players previously earnt around €10 million per year but have seen their deals upped to ensure that they are at the same level as Mbappé, at the top of the club’s wage structure.

Mbappé, Bellingham and Vinicius now become the joint-highest paid players in club history. However they are not the only names at the top of the list. Real Madrid’s all-time record goalscorer Cristiano Ronaldo also earnt an annual salary of €15 million during his time at the club.

CR7′s salary will be looked back at as a good investment, but the fifth and final top earner was less successful. Eden Hazard was rated as one of the world’s biggest talents when he made the move to the Bernabéu in 2019, signing a record-equalling €15 million annual deal. However his four-year stint in Spain was wildly unsuccessful, managing just four LaLiga goals in 54 starts.