Only three African players have been valued above £40m in a list of players researched the CIES Football Observatory that considered a list of the 110 most desirable players in Europe’s top five leagues.
No Nigerian made the CIES list that have only 50 players including one each from Gabon, Egypt and Senegal.
2015 African player of the Year, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (£72m), Mohammed Salah (£60m) and Sadio Mané (£56m) were the only African players in a list which contained an array of stars, all of whom play their club football in Europe.
The valuation of the players according to the research was based on performance, employer clubs, international status, contract, age, position and marketability.
Brazilian star, Neymar emerged as the world’s most expensive player at an eye-watering £185million, £51m more than Messi and £86m more than current Ballon d’Or winner and FIFA best, Cristiano Ronaldo.
The exclusive CIES Football Observatory algorithm is based on the thorough analysis of almost 2,000 paying fee transfers and the variables have led to the Premier League being heavily represented.
Aubameyang, 27, who has scored 20 plus goals in the last two seasons was valued less than England and Spurs’ Dele Alli (£137m), Belgium and Everton’s Romelu Lukaku (£93m), AS Monaco’s Kylian Mbappé (£82m) and Alli’s national and club teammate, Eric Dier (£75m).
Marcus Rashford is considered to worth £62m – two million more than Liverpool target Mohammed Salah.
A list of the 110 most desirable players in Europe’s top five leagues have been released by CIES Football Observatory with each member being valued at a minimum of £40m | Mail
The CIES Football Observatory’s list contains 50 names of some of Europe’s best
No Nigerian player made the list and none is valued at £40m currently | Mail
