Argentine Lionel Messi and Portuguese Cristiano Ronaldo shocked the football world with their departures from Barcelona and Juventus respectively, in the summer transfer market of 2021, which closed last Tuesday night. The market also saw other dramatic surprises, most of which came in the last moments before the transfer window closed, such as the departure of Frenchman Antoine Griezmann from Barcelona back to his former team Atlético Madrid, and Chelsea completing the signing of Spanish player Saúl Ñíguez from Atlético Madrid.
**Messi to Paris**
Messi joined Paris Saint-Germain on a free transfer after Barcelona failed to register his new contract due to salary issues and La Liga regulations. The 34-year-old Messi signed a contract that will keep him at the Parisian club until 2023, with the option for an additional year.
**Ronaldo to Manchester United**
After 12 years since leaving the "Red Devils" fortress, Ronaldo decided to return to Manchester United, where he spent 6 seasons winning numerous titles between 2003 and 2009. Juventus confirmed that Ronaldo left the Italian club after reaching an agreement with Manchester United for a transfer fee of €15 million, plus €8 million in performance-related bonuses.
**Sergio Ramos, Hakimi, Wijnaldum, and Donnarumma to Paris**
Paris Saint-Germain was very active in the 2021 transfer market, acquiring Dutch player Georginio Wijnaldum from Liverpool, Spanish Sergio Ramos from Real Madrid, and Italian Gianluigi Donnarumma from Milan all on free transfers. They also paid €70 million to Inter Milan for Moroccan right-back Achraf Hakimi.
**Griezmann to Atlético Madrid**
In the final moments of the summer transfer window, Atlético Madrid and Barcelona announced that they reached an agreement for French forward Antoine Griezmann to return to the ranks of "Los Rojiblancos." Griezmann left Atlético Madrid in the summer of 2019, joining Barcelona for €120 million, before returning to "Los Rojiblancos" this summer on loan with an obligation to buy for €40 million.
**Aguero to Barcelona**
Barcelona, which had not yet recovered from the nightmare of losing their star and historic top scorer Messi, signed Sergio Aguero on a free transfer after the Argentine striker's contract with Manchester City expired.
**Lukaku and Saúl to Chelsea**
Chelsea strengthened its squad to maintain its title in the UEFA Champions League and regain the English Premier League title with two major signings, acquiring Belgian Romelu Lukaku from Inter Milan for €115 million, and Saúl on loan with a clause allowing the English team to purchase the Spanish player for €40 million.
