Inter Milan striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic this season leads the pack of Serie A moneyed stars leapfrogging Brazilian Kaka of AC Milan.
Statistics published Saturday on La Gazzetta dello Sport say that the Swedish international of the Italian champions saw his net pay rise from 6 million euros (9 million dollars) per season to 11 million euros, while Kaka remained on 9.
The two Milanese powerhouses are even on 120 million euros spent this season for players and staff, a figure that includes about 50 per cent for taxes.
Clubs' expenses to run their business have gone up by 100 million euros this year, for a total of 768 million euros. The amount keeps up a steady rise from the 508-million low of the 2005-2006 season, when Italian football was rocked by a major corruption scandal.
Juventus, who paid for their involvement in the scandal with a relegation to the Serie B, are back with the big boys, spending 115 million euros, while Roma trail far behind with 65 million.
The expenses of the remaining 16 clubs are dramatically lower. Fiorentina, who closed the past season in fourth position behind Inter, Roma and Juventus, spend 37 millions, twice as much as Siena, and three times more than Atalanta and Reggina, the least spending clubs with 12.5 and 11.4 million, respectively.
Shares fell 2.1 per cent Friday on the Seoul stock exchange on general recession fears. South Korea's won dropped against the dollar.
When the Spirit rover landed on Mars five years ago, no one expected it or its sister rover Opportunity to make it to their first birthdays, let alone their fifth.
Amelie Mauresmo fell victim to a leg injury after less than half an hour on court Friday to hand over a 4-0 victory which put French compatriot Marion Bartoli into the final of the Brisbane International.
Mumbai-based movie Slumdog Millionaire won five prizes Thursday night at the Critics Choice Awards, cementing its position as a surprise favourite just as the Oscar season moves into high gear.
After the Taipei Zoo received two giant pandas from China, another Taiwan zoo said Friday it is seeking to receive a pair of pandas from China.