Pérez knew that he could not afford to buy eleven superstars all over the pitch—or more, as injuries and suspensions would always mean he would need a squad. He could, at best, manage half a dozen of the very best in the world. The rest would have to come from the youth team. This was the policy of Cracks y Pavones, of superstars like Zidane and homegrown hopefuls such as Francisco Pavón, with the emphasis very much on the superstars.
