Has Italian football declined? The Serie A top scorer is a naturalized player who has broken the transfer fee record for Italian players.

Retegui.

The Saudi Pro League club Al-Qadisiyah has officially announced the signing of the Serie A top scorer Retegui from Atalanta. According to Transfermarkt, the transfer fee for Retegui joining Al-Qadisiyah from Atalanta is €68.25 million, making him the highest transfer fee for an Italian player in history.

Top 10 transfer fees for Italian players:

• 1st: Retegui, 2025-2026 season, joined Al-Qadisiyah, transfer fee €68.25 million.
• 2nd: Tonali, 2023-2024 season, joined Newcastle, transfer fee €58.9 million.
• 3rd: Jorginho, 2018-2019 season, joined Chelsea, transfer fee €57 million.
• 4th: Buffon (retired), 2001-2002 season, joined Juventus, transfer fee €52.88 million.
• 5th: Vieri (retired), 1999-2000 season, joined Inter Milan, transfer fee €46.48 million.
• 6th: Calafiori, 2024-2025 season, joined Arsenal, transfer fee €45 million.
• Tied for 6th: Verratti, 2023-2024 season, joined Al-Arabi SC, transfer fee €45 million.
• 8th: Chiesa, 2022-2023 season, joined Juventus, transfer fee €44.6 million.
• 9th: Bonucci, 2017-2018 season, joined AC Milan, transfer fee €42 million.
• 10th: Bernardeschi, 2017-2018 season, joined Juventus, transfer fee €40 million.

What are your thoughts after reading this? Serie A truly lacks funds these days, and Italian football indeed has no big-name stars anymore.

Finally, a soul-searching question,if Buffon and Vieri, two legendary Italian players, were placed in today's transfer market, what do you think they would be worth?