Atletico Madrid are La Liga’s biggest spenders, incredibly splashing out more cash than moneybags Real Madrid and Barcelona this summer window

WHEN you think of La Liga’s biggest spenders, you’d be forgiven for instantly thinking of Real Madrid and Barcelona.

After all, over the years the clubs have splashed out mega-bucks for the likes of Gareth Bale – to this day still the most expensive player ever at £86million – Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Suarez.

And while Manchester United are looking to smash that record by bringing Juventus‘ Paul Pogba to Old Trafford for an eye-watering £112m, that still isn’t the biggest surprise.

In fact, the team in Spain splashing the most cash is in fact Diego Simeone’s Atletico Madrid.

So far this summer alone, Atletico have forked out a massive £68.6m on stars such as former Sevilla ace Kevin Gameiro, Nicolas Gaitan, Sime Vrslijko and Diogo Jota.

Meanwhile, Barcelona are only good for second place, shelling out £67.8m, while Real Madrid are a lowly fourth on a mere £25.4m.

Sevilla are sandwiched between the two in third place, with a £47.3m transfer bill.

Barca’s main expenditures come in the form of Andre Gomes – who joined for £29.75m from Valencia – and ex-Lyon defender Samuel Umtiti for the princely sum of £21.25m.

Sevilla have gone for safety in numbers, bu bringing in no fewer than six players already this summer, while the Galacticos’ only movement this summer is to tie down former player Alvaro Morata from Juventus.

It’s a different story at the foot of the table as four clubs are yet to spend a single penny in the window.

In fact, Barcelona and Real Madrid missed out on the title of biggest spenders last season too, beaten to the punch by Gary Neville‘s former club Valencia, who paid a massive £116m on reinforcements.

Atletico Madrid came in second that year after handing over £106.7m, with Real and Barca third and fourth respectively, having spent £75.3m and £49.1m.

The spending was not enough for the top two cash-splashers however as Atletico slipped to third in the league, three points off champions Barcelona, while Valencia languished in 12th after a torrid campaign that ultimately cost Nev his job.

But the big question is, with the ‘Big Two’ becoming more of a ‘Big Three’ in Spanish football recently with the improvement of Atletico under their Argentine boss, could this summer’s spree finally propel them back to the top of the La Liga table come May?