Fergie has questioned whether or not Real Madrid will have instant (or any) success, and Martin O'Neill needs to lie down for a while.
Ferguson, "Sunderland spent so much money that they became known as 'The Bank of England club. They didn't win anything and in the end they got themselves relegated. I am not saying that Real Madrid will get relegated but they will still have plenty of problems with balance. I do not know how Manuel Pellegrini plans to pick his side because it has no balance. I told Ronaldo before he flew out that he will end up playing centre-half because I don't think they have one.
"Barcelona are different because they have grown their squad properly and added one or two players each season. They have a fantastic midfield and they will be once again a threat to everyone taking part in the Champions League.
"I think it will be difficult for Milan and Manchester United to replace players of the standard of Ronaldo and Kaka. But it is in the nature of our club that we cope. The expectation is still there and the drive and ambition will still be there. It will be difficult but we will cope. Ronaldo was fantastic for Manchester United. He is the best player in the world, in my opinion, but it is difficult to hold on to players from abroad for any length of time and we never expected him to stay for more than six years."
New Milan coach Leonardo echoed Fergie's thoughts. "They had their experiment with the galácticos and yet at the end of it all they did not win anything. You can buy up good talent and create possibilities for yourself but it is not easy to construct a squad and manage players like Kaka, Ronaldo and Karim Benzema. You need more than just money to build a team. You need more than talent, you need spirit and we will have to see if Madrid have this spirit."
Martin O'Neill on his former club Manchester City, "They might not be favourites to win the league but they should be. If Touré comes to the club and they still haven't stopped spending, they have as good a chance as anyone of winning it. All they have got is 38 league games and the League Cup and FA Cup, which doesn't start until January."