Nothing is permanent. Just when it seemed that Barcelona's dominance in domestic football was becoming monotonous for their rivals Real Madrid, the Blancos responded in the 2006-07 season by securing a thrilling title victory on the final day. The two Clasico giants were evenly matched, finishing level on points, with Madrid ultimately winning the title due to their superior head-to-head record. This triumph vindicated the significant investment made by Real Madrid's president Florentino Perez to bring success back to the Santiago Bernabeu after a period of disappointment. Meanwhile, Barcelona's failure to maintain their strong start to the season and their poor performance in the Clasico matches ultimately cost them the title. In 2006, Italian football was rocked by a corruption scandal, leading to the departure of several high-profile figures to clubs like Barcelona and Real Madrid. Both clubs made significant signings, with Real Madrid bringing in players like Fabio Cannavaro and Fabio Capello, while Barcelona acquired Gianluca Zambrotta and Lilian Thuram. Additionally, Atletico Madrid made a notable signing in Sergio 'Kun' Aguero. The season also saw the promotion of Recreativo, Gimnastic, and Levante, while the retirement of Zinedine Zidane after the World Cup was a major absence from the league. Real Madrid made substantial investments in new players, surpassing the €100 million mark, with the arrivals of Ruud van Nistelrooy, Fabio Cannavaro, and Mahamadou Diarra. The departure of Zinedine Zidane marked the end of an era for the club. Van Nistelrooy made an immediate impact, scoring a hat-trick in his debut and continuing to deliver crucial goals throughout the season. Despite the departure of Ronaldo to Milan, Van Nistelrooy's performances, including a key brace in the Clasico, played a pivotal role in Madrid's success. The season culminated in a dramatic final day, where Real Madrid secured the title by matching their rivals' result due to their advantage in head-to-head matches. Despite an early scare, Madrid emerged victorious with a 3-1 win, bringing La Liga back to the Spanish capital. Juan de Ramos was named Manager of the Season for guiding Sevilla to the Champions League and achieving victories over both Madrid and Barcelona. Ruud van Nistelrooy was the top goalscorer with 25 goals, playing a crucial role in Madrid's title triumph. The most expensive transfer was Mahamadou Diarra's move from Lyon to Real Madrid for €26 million. The key moment of the season was the thrilling final day double-header, where Madrid ultimately secured the crown.
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