While the Premier League broke records again for spending this summer, Lecce reveal they spent just €3.5m and their wage bill is a total of €8m net – roughly what Paul Pogba alone earns.
The Salentini won the Serie B title last season and earned promotion into the top flight.
They were only narrowly beaten by Inter and Sassuolo, then held Empoli and Napoli to 1-1 draws so far this season.
Director of sport Pantaleo Corvino is something of a legend in Italian football for his wheeler-dealer abilities on the transfer market, returning to Lecce after a spell at Fiorentina.
He was certainly not sitting on his hands, bringing in 22 players this summer, including the surprise Samuel Umtiti from Barcelona and VfL Wolfsburg defender Marin Pongracic.
Yet in his press conference this afternoon, Corvino revealed the total expense on the transfer market – taking into account sales and loans – was just €3.5m.
He also confirmed the total gross wage bill was €15m, which is circa €8m net.
That is the same salary that players like Romelu Lukaku, Paul Pogba and Angel Di Maria command just by themselves, let alone for an entire squad.
As for the youth team, their entire wages cost €350,000 net.