A global recession has most football clubs tightening their purse strings, but Real Madrid don't seem to care flexing their financial muscle with a staggering summer spending spree in excess of $357 million to try and re-establish themselves as the top team in Spain and Europe.

Last season that honour went to their arch rivals Barcelona as they won an unprecedented league, Kings Cup and Champions League treble and Real have responded with a massive financial investment to ensure they are not second best again.