The 2025/26 Champions League, Europe's biggest soccer competition, has started. Last season, Paris Saint-Germain won their first historic title with an overwhelming victory over Inter Milan in the final. Presently, there are numerous candidates challenging for the most coveted trophy. From Xabi Alonso's Real Madrid to Flick's Barcelona, from the six English clubs (a record number in the Champions League) to the powerful Bayern Munich. The four Italian teams—Atalanta, Inter, Juventus, and the reigning Italian champions, Napoli—are more distant but surely not to be disregarded. Certainly, given the participants' gross earnings, the four Italian teams will be up against actual giants. Real Madrid, as last year, guarantees the highest compensation to its players (€292.3 million). Manchester City is the next in line, having successfully acquired Gianluigi Donnarumma from PSG for €255.9 million in the final days of the transfer window. Bayern Munich, led by Vincent Kompany, finishes third with €245.1 million. To find an Italian club, one must go down to tenth place, occupied by Inter. The Nerazzurri pay their players a total of €141.5 million in gross salaries. Juventus is in 13th place (€123 million), followed by Napoli in 15th (€110.1 million) and Atalanta in 22nd (€57.9 million).