Real Madrid`s "Galactico" policy has often been criticized, not the least by Barcelona officials who - oblivious to the plank in their own eye - all too self-righteously scolded their archrival`s "spending frenzy".

The only difference between Real Madrid in their first "Galactico" era and Barcelona at the same period of time was that in Madrid, the policy in question bore fruit at least for a while whereas, in Barcelona, it produced a team that - due to conflicting superstar egos - was deemed uncoachable before Rijkaard came and cleared out the chief troublemakers.