FIFA: 5 clubs skewed $3.7B trade market in 2013

GENEVA — Just five football clubs spent almost a quarter of the $3.7 billion splurged on international transfer deals processed FIFA in 2013.

FIFA says Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, Tottenham and Real Madrid spent $828 million in cross-border deals, which clubs must file through the governing body.

Mark Goddard, FIFA Transfer Matching System general manager, says "a very few clubs making very big moves (are) skewing the market."

Global spending rose 41 percent according to FIFA's report, which excludes deals between two clubs in the same country.

FIFA cites "super-clubs" and valuable English Premier League broadcast deals for fueling the surge.

English clubs spent $613 million more than they received in international transfer fees.

English clubs also paid $74 million to agents and intermediaries, who took $216 million in total worldwide.