Real says it wants to add one such "galactico" to its roster every year.

FORBES

Michael Owen was bought from Liverpool in 2004 -- though some argued whether he was a galactico or not.

CNN: The return of the 'galacticos' at Real

The top players Perez brought in through this period sparked the term "galacticos", and from 2000 onwards Madrid continued to invest in a new galactico each year.

CNN: The return of the 'galacticos' at Real

We had got used to big-name foreign stars arriving at the start of each season but this year has been incredibly quiet on that front and the global economic situation means there haven't been any 'Galactico' signings.

BBC: Jeremy Guscott's Premiership preview

Pellegrini's arrival at the club coincided with the return of club president Florentino Perez, the man who put together the original 'galactico' team featuring Zinedine Zidane and David Beckham, and once again he began recruiting the cream of the world's footballing talent.

BBC: Minnows knock Madrid out of cup

President Florentino Perez smashed previous highest marks to bring Luis Figo and Zinedine Zidane to the Bernabeu in his first stint in charge, then made AC Milan's Brazilian superstar Kaka his first 'Galactico' capture of his second reign at the start of this month.

CNN: Ronaldo agrees six-year deal with Real