Italy’s Serie A is one of the best competitive footballing leagues to watch in the world. One of Europe’s big five, alongside the Premier League, Bundesliga, La Liga and Ligue 1, Serie A has always seemed to have more parity within the division than its competitors.

Theoretically, any one of AC Milan, Inter Milan, Juventus, Lazio, Roma or Napoli could push for the title ahead of a season. There are so few leagues, particularly within the bracket of elite football, that can offer such open competition. More often than not, there are two-to-four teams that hold a clear advantage over the rest.

In a league brimming with competition and talent, just which 20 players in Serie A are on the highest salaries per week?

20th-16th

John Stones, Federico Dimarco, Donyell Malen, Goncalo Ramos, Marcus Thuram

REUTERS/Dylan Martinez

All four players ranked 20th-17th on the highest-paid players list in Serie A receive the same weekly salary, according to Capology. Inter Milan‘s newest signing, John Stones, who arrived as a free agent after leaving Manchester City, has been handed an £121,707 per week contract, earning the same as new teammate Federico Dimarco, who has been with the Nerazzurri since 2018.

Dutch forward Donyell Malen joined AS Roma from Aston Villa in January, and he’s on the same salary. As is AC Milan’s summer signing Goncalo Ramos, who has become Ruben Amorim‘s new number nine.

Inter frontman Marcus Thuram earns marginally more than those four, with the Frenchman reportedly on £126,306 a week. The Frenchman’s current deal runs until 2028, and the San Siro giants have a decision to make regarding an extension.

15th-11th

Douglas Luiz, Piotr Zielinski, Alvaro Morata, Adrien Rabiot, Christopher Nkunku

Italian football’s chiefs seem keen to align their players’ salaries, as another trio all earn £136,818 per week. That includes Douglas Luiz, who has endured a frustrating spell since joining Juventus from Aston Villa and spent last season on loan at Nottingham Forest.

Piotr Zielinski joins Luiz on the same amount, and the midfielder is one of the longest-serving players in Serie A. He became the first Polish player in Inter’s history when he joined back in 2024 after leaving rivals Napoli.

Another one of Italy’s journeymen, Alvaro Morata, is the third player earning this weekly wage, and the Spanish striker is currently at Cesc Fàbregas’ Como. Just ahead of them on £152,093 is Adrien Rabiot, who has been one of the most underrated midfielders in European football and is earning plaudits at Milan.

The Frenchman’s teammate Christopher Nkunku has been earning the same since joining the Rossoneri from Chelsea in August 2025. He has struggled to bounce back from his Stamford Bridge struggles since heading to the San Siro.

10th-6th

Rasmus Hojlund, Bremer, Alessandro Bastoni, Randal Kolo Muani, Kenan Yildiz

The first to crack the top 10 of highest-paid Serie A players is former Manchester United striker Rasmus Hojlund. Although the Dane only joined Napoli last year, penning a contract worth £152,093 per week, he is no stranger to Italian football, having caught the eye at Atalanta before his Old Trafford nightmare.

Juve defender Bremer is on the same amount, while Inter’s Alessandro Bastoni is sitting on £167,368. Both are viewed as the best centre-backs in Italian football and are the highest-paid defenders on this list.

Randal Kolo Muani got his desired return to the Old Lady earlier this summer after a rather forgetful loan spell at Tottenham Hotspur. The French forward is paid as much as Bastoni but sits behind two teammates on the Turin club’s wage bill.

One of the most exciting prospects in Serie A is Kenan Yildiz and the Turkish winger earned a bumper contract in February. The attacking gem is now earning £182,479 per week, rewarded for stellar displays at the Allianz Stadium.

5th-1st

Jonathan David, Hakan Calhanoglu, Kevin De Bruyne, Nico Barella, Lautaro Martinez

Three more players earn as much as Yildiz, including Juve striker Jonathan David, who has a fight on his hands to keep his starting berth following Kolo Muani’s arrival. The Canadian is earning the same weekly pay as Inter stalwart Hakan Calhanoglu, who controversially has played for both Milan rivals.

Kevin De Bruyne takes third spot due to bonuses in his contract, but he’s not earning as much at Napoli as he did at Manchester City. The Belgian midfield maestro is entering the twilight years of his career in Naples.

Another of Serie A’s playmakers, Nicolo Barella, is the second-highest-paid player, earning £197,754 per week at the San Siro. He’s been with the Nerazzurri since 2020 and is a three-time Scudetto winner, cementing his legacy as an Inter legend.

legend.

Ahead of Barella, however, is club captain Lautaro Martinez, who, on £273,800 per week, is the only player in the league earning over £200,000. He has taken Dusan Vlahovic’s place at the top of the list after the Serbian left Juventus and talk of a potential exit has been constantly put to bed with increased wages for the two-time Serie A Golden Boot winner.

Finishing his career as Liverpool’s all-time leading goalscorer, a record he still holds to this day, Ian Rush ranks among the finest footballers to ever represent the Reds. The Welsh striker collected every major domestic and European trophy available during his two spells at Anfield, scoring an incredible 346 goals in the process.

Given his status as a genuine club icon, it’s always fascinating to hear which Liverpool players have stood out most to Rush throughout the years. Speaking to TalkSPORT in 2024, he selected one former teammate as the greatest player to ever represent the Reds.

“The Greatest” – Ian Rush’s Praise of Kenny Dalglish

Rush was unequivocal when discussing his former strike partner. While he acknowledged that Mohamed Salah could be considered the best Premier League player Liverpool have had, he argued that when considering the full history of English football – dating back to the first top-flight campaign in 1888 – Dalglish stands above everyone else to have worn Liverpool red. He said:

Why Kenny Dalglish Was So Good

As Liverpool’s record goalscorer, Rush built his reputation on outstanding finishing and an uncanny ability to find space inside the penalty area. Alongside his sharp instincts in front of goal, his relentless work rate made him a huge favourite with the Anfield faithful.

His partnership with Dalglish also played a major role in taking his performances to another level. Rush has previously explained how much his goalscoring success was helped by the quality of his teammate, telling PA Media in 2021:

He added: “He has done so much for this club it would be hard to start listing things. But he has done extraordinary things for the game in general, for football, for the fans.

Although Dalglish arrived with an impressive reputation in 1977 – having already collected four league titles and four Scottish Cups with Celtic – he joined Liverpool while the club was still adjusting to the departure of icon and future two-time Ballon d’Or winner Kevin Keegan. He responded to the expectations immediately, scoring in each of his first four competitive appearances.

In his debut campaign, Dalglish scored the decisive goal against Club Brugge in the European Cup final at Wembley, setting the tone for years of success. He would go on to win the First Division six times with Liverpool, alongside one FA Cup, four League Cups, and three European Cups.

That remarkable haul established him not only as one of Liverpool’s greatest-ever players, but also as one of the finest British footballers to ever play the game.

Sir Alex Ferguson often did his utmost to prevent any Manchester United player from joining arch-rivals Liverpool.

Understandably so, given Ferguson vowed to knock the Merseysiders ‘off their perch’ during the early stages of a 26-year reign. The Scot did just that, guiding United to 13 Premier League titles and dominating English football.

Just four players have moved from Old Trafford to Anfield, and none of those transfers occurred while Ferguson was at the helm. You have to go all the way back to Phil Chisnall in 1964, who was the last player to swap the Theatre of Dreams for the Kop.

That’s not to say there haven’t been rumours of potential transfers taking place between the two clubs. One player during Sir Alex’s era had pushed for a controversial move, but the Red Devils’ legendary former boss wasn’t having it.

Ferguson Put Man Utd Star Joining Liverpool ‘To Bed’

There perhaps hasn’t been a manager with more control at a football club than Ferguson, who controlled United from top to bottom. Nowadays, most coaches are appointed to solely focus on tactics and follow a set plan handed to them by sporting directors.

Ferguson had the final say over team selections, style of play, transfers and even kept the media in line. When talk of Gabriel Heinze wanting to join Liverpool surfaced, he was firm in his approach to deny the Argentine left-back a move to Anfield.

Heinze fell out with Old Trafford bosses in 2007 and then-United chief executive David Gill allegedly informed his agent Roberto Rodriguez he could leave for £6.8 million. Much to Ferguson and Co’s surprise, that very offer arrived from Anfield as Rafa Benitez looked to take the versatile defender to Merseyside.

Ferguson made his stance clear after calling out Heinze’s agents: “I can assure you, Liverpool will not be getting Gabriel Heinze. We can put that to bed right now and we have done so.”

Heinze took legal advice, and Liverpool’s solicitors were thought to be ready to support him. This didn’t go down well with his United boss: “I’m aware that it has been suggested that he’s using Liverpool’s solicitors, but that doesn’t worry me. He has either got a case or he hasn’t.”

The Argentine failed in his attempt to join Benitez’s side after the Premier League held a hearing and United won. He vented his frustrations: “My fight is for the freedom to negotiate with any club… United never wanted me to leave for one of the big clubs, but this anti-Liverpool clause is incredible.”

Heinze spent three years at United after joining the Red Devils from Paris Saint-Germain in the summer of 2004. He had been a fan favourite, winning the Sir Matt Busby Player of the Year award in his debut season.

A serious knee ligament injury the following season proved problematic, and Ferguson swooped for Patrice Evra, who took his place at left-back. He became disillusioned with life at United due to a lack of regular game time, but he didn’t get the move to Liverpool he wanted.

A Reunion With Mikel Arteta at Arsenal

REUTERS/Andrew Boyers

Heinze later apologised to United fans for how he handled the situation and his fallout with Ferguson. While he harmed his relationship with the club’s supporters, many took the positives from his time at the Theatre of Dreams.

After calling time on his playing career in July 2014 at Newell’s Old Boys in Argentina, he entered the coaching world. He spent time in charge of MLS club Atlanta United and returned to Newell’s before heading back to the Premier League in July 2025.

Heinze agreed to reunite with his former PSG teammate Mikel Arteta and join Arsenal‘s backroom staff. He replaced Carlos Cuesta as Arteta’s assistant and rejoined the Spaniard on the training pitch, as he had done during their playing days in the French capital.

Luis Fernandez, who managed the pair during their time at the Parc des Princes, explained their close bond in an interview with BBC Sport: “Gabi was closer to Mikel’s age and more like a brother… They were together at training, and also spent time together away from the pitch with their families.”

Heinze’s arrival worked a charm as Arsenal finally ended a 22-year title drought and won the Premier League last season. Their contrasting characters have been on display on the touchline as they were at PSG.

Former teammate Edouard Cisse explained: “Gabi gave everything, even in training. He had to win. Mikel was calmer. But you knew not to rub him up the wrong way. He had that tough Basque edge.”

Arteta praised Heinze for bringing ‘something different’ and ‘winning experience’ to the Emirates months after his arrival. The pair have already got a taste for Premier League glory and will undoubtedly be eyeing European success after suffering a heartbreaking loss on penalties to former club PSG in the Champions League final.