Hernan Crespo has said Juventus did not pay over the odds for Gonzalo Higuain -- but indicated that Manchester United may have done so for Paul Pogba.
Juve brought in Higuain, last season's leading Serie A goal scorer, from Napoli for €90 million (£75.6m).
General manager Beppe Marotta insisted it was an investment the club would have made even had they not been set to recoup that money and more from the £89.3m (€105m) sale of Pogba.
And Crespo -- the world's most expensive player when Lazio signed him from Parma for €55m in 2000 -- told La Nacion: "You don't get anything for free, even less so in football.
"If they spent that much it is only because Higuain is worth it or at least they expect to get a return on him.
"I believe it is far more logical to pay €90m for Higuain, who has just scored 36 goals, than spending €110m on Pogba.
"With all respect -- and he is a great player -- goals are what make the difference in world football."
Crespo, who scored 323 goals during his career, is currently out of work after coaching Modena in Serie B last season.