Former Bayern Munich manager Ottmar Hitzfeld says the German champions would never buy superstar names like Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar as it isn't how the club prefer to do business.
Bayern have just completed a deal for Germany international defender Mats Hummels for a reported fee of around €35 million. And the club earlier this month put pen to paper on a deal for Portuguese teenager Renato Sanches from Benfica for an additional €35m, which could rise to as much as €80m if performance-related bonuses are met.
Last summer, Bayern brought in Brazilian winger Douglas Costa for a reported €30 million. Since joining the Bavarians, the former Shakhtar Donetsk man has been a revelation at the Allianz Arena and was a key factor in the club's domestic double.
On the prospect of Bayern ever making a megadeal for a big name, Hitzfeld said: "Buying a big name like Messi, Ronaldo, [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic, Neymar or [Luis] Suarez ... that's something Bayern would not do. It's not the philosophy of Bayern to pay colossal wages or to pay maybe €100 million and upwards for a top player. That wouldn't be Bayern's style."
With new boss Carlo Ancelotti taking over this summer for Pep Guardiola, Hitzfeld expects more of the same practices in the future.
"Bayern can improve within strong financial limits which you can see in the case of Renato Sanches," Hitzfeld said.
"Bayern is a club that plans in the long term and that wants to give young players a chance to develop like Kingsley Coman or Douglas Costa. Those players were bought and they have delivered good performances.
"Before the Champions League match between Bayern and Benfica a lot was written about Renato Sanches. He has already played a lot of games, scored goals, assisted many goals. He has an extraordinary technique, he can keep the ball in a small space, can pass the ball. He's a huge talent.
"I watched him there and he fulfilled expectations.
"He also convinced Bayern during these games, so it was a logical consequence that Bayern bought him. €30-€35 million for a top player... that's the price you have to pay these days.
"That's how the market is. And if he's a raving success at Bayern, he will be worth double that soon."