All the world knows that Real Madrid's net value is massive, but apparently they are not the most valuable team in Spain right now...

For years, Atlético fans had to endure jokes and digs from Real Madrid supporters, mainly because they were considered the poorest team in Madrid. Well, that seems to have changed this season, and Atlético fans can finally call themselves taller than their neighbors.

According to a report by Marca, based on Deloitte's Football Money League, the total value of their squad is higher than that of Real Madrid. This had never happened before, and here are some of the reasons why this happened.

First off, we need to offer you some grounds to compare. When both teams met in the 2014 UEFA Champions League final, Atlético's squad was worth around $327M, while Real Madrid's team was worth almost double that number: $589M. Two years later, Atlético's team was valued at $399M, while Los Blancos were worth $863M. Those differences are gone with the wind, as you will notice in the next paragraph.

This year, Los Colchoneros' net worth ranks among the highest in Europe, with the team's valuation currently sitting at $972M, compared to Real Madrid's $879M. Atlético's footballers have an average worth of $44M, while Real Madrid's players have an average worth of $40M, even after winning three UEFA Champions League titles in a row.

The CR7 factor

Cristiano Ronaldo's departure this summer had a massive effect on these numbers, as the Portuguese ace was Real Madrid's most valuable player both in and out of the pitch. The Portuguese footballer's worth was around $136M, which would have put Real Madrid ahead of Los Colchoneros in this ranking. 

In fact, Real Madrid's valuation could take a huge leap if Florentino Pérez decides to sign one or two more players to replace CR7. Added to that, some of the players in Real's squad are set for an exit, which would force this valuation to be updated.