Johan Cruyff is perturbed that Real Madrid are now acquiring the kind of players that he believes former club Barcelona used to be renowned for signing.

Carlo Ancelotti's side paid a reported €80 million fee to Monaco for World Cup starlet James Rodriguez not long after Toni Kroos arrived at the Santiago Bernabeu from Bayern Munich for an estimated €25 million.

Cruyff has praised Los Blancos for bringing the pair to La Liga, giving his former club a subtle dig in the process.

"Kroos was one of the best players at Bayern and at the World Cup," the Barca icon told Ultima Hora. "He sprays the ball around really well. James is also a terrific playmaker.

"Barca always used to sign lots of playmaker, but now Real have done so."

Whereas in recent years - such as under the stewardship of Pep Guardiola - Barca have been able to thrive off their youth team products, they have splashed huge amounts of cash on Neymar and Luis Suarez in the past year or so.

Ivan Rakitic, Thomas Vermaelen, Claudio Bravo, Jeremy Mathieu and Marc-Andre ter Stegen are also among those whom Luis Enrique has brought on board for considerable fees this summer and Cruyff insists the club deserve time before they are judged on the vast amount of money they have spent on players in 2014.

"Barca have gone in a new direction and we have to give them the benefit of the doubt," the ex-Barca coach and player continued.

"They've spent a lot of money, which always brings a lot of scrutiny, and we'll have to see how it goes.

"I've been impressed by new Barcelona coach Luis Enrique's enthusiasm to get down to work and give his all in his new role, though.

"The onus is on him to win over the players. You can bet that he won't win over a couple of them and that's when he'll have to make some tough, strong decisions."

Midfielders is the future   

lol wut why is Cyuff saying nice things about our players.

yeah. I think those quotes were made up tbh.

Cruyff made up quotes, and the thread started and responde to by all Madridistas, lol

Both clubs did some terrible business imo, bar Kroos and maybe Rakitic.The cherry on top would be letting Di Maria go.

Ganso wrote:Both clubs did some terrible business imo, bar Kroos and maybe Rakitic.The cherry on top would be letting Di Maria go.

Well that's just your opinion. We clearly did great business, the only issues will be getting everything to click as soon as possible.

Cruyff is a fan of Kroos, has lauded him before, so I don't think that part necessarily is made up

Zealous wrote:

Ganso wrote:Both clubs did some terrible business imo, bar Kroos and maybe Rakitic.The cherry on top would be letting Di Maria go.

Well that's just your opinion. We clearly did great business, the only issues will be getting everything to click as soon as possible.

dat Modric-Kroos pivot with Isco as false 9

you are going into the season without a DM and a backup ST.Meanwhile, your best player last season might leave.I can't see how that's great business

Ganso wrote:

Zealous wrote:

Ganso wrote:Both clubs did some terrible business imo, bar Kroos and maybe Rakitic.The cherry on top would be letting Di Maria go.

Well that's just your opinion. We clearly did great business, the only issues will be getting everything to click as soon as possible.

dat Modric-Kroos pivot with Isco as false 9

you are going into the season without a DM and a backup ST.Meanwhile, your best player last season might leave.I can't see how that's great business

1) We played without a "DM" last season too and did just fine lol. Modric provides a lot of defensive stability plus our CB's are used to the extra workload. Trash "DM" like Gustavo are not welcome or needed.

2) Di Maria was a vital player but he was not the best or most consistent on the team. Replacing him could prove difficult but I'm sure we will change things up in a way that will help improve the team long term.

3) You're right abut the ST part, I agree with you there :\

Ganso wrote:Both clubs did some terrible business imo, bar Kroos and maybe Rakitic.The cherry on top would be letting Di Maria go.

Agreed

Where in the article does it say we're outdoing Barca.

there is a huge difference between playing with Modric-Kroos-James and Di Maria-Xabi-Modric.Xabi is a much better holding player than Kroos, and with James Madrid will struggle to play that compact 4-4-2 that bailed Modric-Xabi out in CL.

And cmon, without Di Maria I doubt you guys would be lifting that CL.He was the most pivotal players for you lot technically and tactically (because of that 4-4-2/4-3-3 variation he enables)

Ganso wrote:there is a huge difference between playing with Modric-Kroos-James and Di Maria-Xabi-Modric.Xabi is a much better holding player than Kroos, and with James Madrid will struggle to play that compact 4-4-2 that bailed Modric-Xabi out in CL.

And cmon, without Di Maria I doubt you guys would be lifting that CL.He was the most pivotal players for you lot technically and tactically (because of that 4-4-2/4-3-3 variation he enables)

I think you're underestimating certain points and overestimating some others.

Personally I think the squad is as strong as it's ever been, with or without Angel.

Apparently Modric/Kroos/James will start tonight vs Sevilla.

Also yeh, the reason Alonso/Modric/Di Maria worked was because it was a 3 man midfield and both Modric/Di Maria were hard workers. Plus Alonso's good in terms of organising etc, Kroos on the other hand has never played as the deepest midfielder.

lol Di Maria being better than Ronaldo or Bale.

ganso is completely right, selling di maria and playing james at AM is 2 steps backwards, no amount of hype wont change that, kroos ain't alonso but with di maria and modric beside him it was plausible at least

El Cujo wrote:lol Di Maria being better than Ronaldo or Bale.

  

Why the hell are you face palming? It's the truth.

Well Di Maria could have sent us out against Dortmund

El Cujo wrote:lol Di Maria being better than Ronaldo or Bale.

Ronaldo and Bale's performance in that CL final alone doesn't make this debatable.

inb4 they destroyed ze germans

RM to not even get to Semi's of CL this season. Calling it now.

Zealous wrote:Why the hell are you face palming? It's the truth.

cause its nonsense, cr and bale both had shockers in games, where di maria stood tall like a goat, very important games as well, di maria easily deserves just as much respect as anyone, then again according to you james is already better no?