As Real Madrid president Florentino Perez celebrated his fifth league title last Thursday night at the Alfredo Di Stefano stadium he was asked about signing Kylian Mbappe this summer.
He issued a warning to fans expecting big things in the transfer market: 'The situation is very bad and that's why there will be no big signings,' said Perez. 'It's difficult to ask the players to take a pay cut and then make a big signing.'
So with no 'Galatico 2020' Sportsmail looks at how Madrid will try to turn this season's triumph into a new run of dominance over Barcelona.
THE KIDS
Vinicius is just 20, Rodrygo Goes is 19, Brahim Diaz is 20, Fede Valverde is 21, and Eder Militao is 22. Loanees Martin Odegaard and Take Kubo are only 21 and 19 respectively.
That's potentially seven of an 11 all under the age of 23 but Zinedine Zidane will tread carefully.
He knows that Vinicius needs to improve his finishing, that Rodrygo has been inconsistent in his first campaign, and that Fede Valverde must be protected from burn-out.
He wants Brahim to take a loan option and for Odegaard to stay for another season at Real Sociedad. He needs to make a decision on Kubo who has shone at relegated Mallorca.
He wants Militao to become an option to replace Sergio Ramos but he knows what big boots they are to fill.
Madrid have invested brilliantly in youth and it could be the challenge that keeps Zidane interested to bring the best out of such a talented group.
THE VETERANS
'Don't look at the ID card,' said Luka Modric on Friday's title celebrations at the Valdebebas training ground.
He doesn't want people to focus on his 34 years and added: 'I still want to play every minute'.
That's the next challenge for Zidane, to get the best out of his older players, resting them when necessary without depriving them of the minutes that they need to stay motivated.
Madrid's spine on Thursday as they beat Villarreal had 100 years between three players: Modric (34), Sergio Ramos (34) and Karim Benzema (32). They all want to keep playing.
Zidane will want them to keep playing but each will need to be managed differently.
Ramos needs to sign a new contract. The club's policy is not to renew players over 30 for more than a year but their captain fantastic deserves two years for leading his team's sprint finish to the title.
He has already said he wants to retire at the club and Perez has agreed that is what has to happen. Modric will not renew but will see out his final season.
And Benzema will keep getting better but might need greater competition for his place next season, either from an improved Luka Jovic or from a new signing.
THE LET-DOWNS
It will be season take-two for Eden Hazard and Jovic. The first season was a near write-off for both. Hazard played only 16 games and scored once. Jovic got two goals in the same number of matches.
Hazard can at least point to injuries but even when fit Madrid did not really see the sparkling football he produced in London.
He has largely escaped criticism but next year there will be greater expectation.
Jovic has shown signs of being the prolific scorer from the Bundesliga and Zidane will already know – having watched him all season in training – whether or not he really believes he can be a Madrid player.
If he has decided no, then Jovic needs a loan club where he can score goals and raise his market value.
And Madrid will need to find a replacement, knowing that the money is not there to sign Mbappe, or even Erling Braut Haaland.
THE EXITS
James Rodriguez has asked to be left out of the last three match squads and looks set to leave at the end of the season.
Gareth Bale has continued to be called up by Zidane and just about took part in their on-the-pitch celebration after clinching the title. He wants to stay and see out the last two years of his contract.
Changes to the rules on what players can be paid in the Chinese Super League has meant the Far East ceasing to be such an attractive alternative.
The MLS continues to be a lot of transfer rumour smoke without too much big-signings fire, and no one in Europe will match what Bale earns at Real Madrid.
Whether that changes with a huge offer from England and more pay cuts at Madrid remains to be seen.
There will be no movement before Real Madrid face Manchester City in the Champions League, and if they get through Bale could be involved in what remains his favourite competition.
Isco and Lucas Vazquez could also be available at the right price as Madrid look to trim a squad that will have 36 players in it when all loans return.
THE COACH
Zidane surprised everyone in 2018 when he quit in June. There is so little gap between this season and the next there is barely time for a sensational repeat of that walkout.
He's happier now anyway, no longer fearing the dismantling of his team. He is in charge and he can try to do what no Real Madrid coach has done since 1988 and win back-to-back league crowns.