Bayern Munich will never sign a global superstar such as Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo as it goes against the club's philosophy, according to former coach Ottmar Hitzfeld.
Departing Bayern boss bemoaned the lack of a player who "who scores 50, 60 goals like Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi" after a 3-0 win over Schalke in April.
He told Omnisport: "Bayern regularly buy good players and they also improve their team by extending contracts early.
"Buying a big name like Messi, Ronaldo, [Zlatan] Ibrahimovic, Neymar or [Luis] Suarez… that's something Bayern would not do. It's not the philosophy of Bayern to pay colossal wages or to pay maybe €100million and upwards for a top player. That wouldn't be Bayern's style."
Bayern recently signed Portuguese teenager Renato Sanches from Benfica for €35m - a fee that could rise to €80m depending on success-related bonuses.
He added: "Bayern can improve within strong financial limits which you can see in the case of Renato Sanches.
"Bayern is a club that plans in the long term and that wants to give young players a chance to develop like Kingsley Coman or Douglas Costa. Those players were bought and they have delivered good performances.
"Before the Champions League match between Bayern and Benfica a lot was written about Renato Sanches. He has already played a lot of games, scored goals, assisted many goals. He has an extraordinary technique, he can keep the ball in a small space, can pass the ball. He's a huge talent.
"I watched him there and he fulfilled expectations.
"He also convinced Bayern during these games, so it was a logical consequence that Bayern bought him. €30-€35 million for a top player... that's the price you have to pay these days.
"That's how the market is. And if he's a raving success at Bayern, he will be worth double that soon."
