The one-billion euro El Clasico

THE world's most expensive football stars are set to take the field tomorrow afternoon when Barcelona host Real Madrid in what is this season's first instalment of El Clasico.

The Spanish giants have spent a combined total of 1,049 billion euros in order to compile their current line-ups.That figure would undoubtedly be much higher if it weren't for a handful of academy graduates such as Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets and Lucas Vazquez.

Real Madrid have spent the most, having invested a total of 613.4m euros over the past few years.

The purchases of Cristiano Ronaldo (94m), Gareth Bale (91m) and James Rodriguez (80m) account for almost half of the club's expenditure. Meanwhile, Los Blancos have spent 20-40m on 10 other players, five of whom are undisputed starters when fit: Toni Kroos, Luka Modric, Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos, and Pepe. Danilo, Isco, Mateo Kovacic, Alvaro Morata and Fabio Coentrao — the other five — are seen as adequate back-up personnel.The rest: Keylor Navas (10m), Dani Carvajal (6.5 m) and Casemiro (9m) have proven to be bargain purchases while academy graduate Nacho, who has become crucial to Zidane's side of late, cost the club nothing.

Barcelona's investment, on the other hand, has been significantly inferior with several of the club's high-profile players originating from La Masia.

In addition to Lionel Messi, who is currently valued at 200m euros by the club, Sergio Busquets, Sergi Roberto and Andres Iniesta, mainstays within Luis Enrique's starting XI, were acquired by the club without cost. Substitutes Jordi Masip and Rafinha also find themselves in a similar position.

However, the club have also done their fair share of spending in recent with years with Luis Suarez, Ivan Rakitic and MarcAndre ter Stegen costing the club 81m, 18m and 12m respectively.

The Blaugrana have also been forced to splash the cash with their recent acquisitions of Arda Turan, Aleix Vidal, Cillessen, Umtiti, Digne, Denis Suarez and Andre Gomes. — Marca.