Former Real Madrid coach John Toshack is not convinced that the club had to sign David Beckham or that the England captain will settle easily in Spain.
"The signing doesn't make too much sense unless of course Luis Figo moves on," the Welshman, who steered Real to the Spanish title in 1990 and had another short spell with them in the late 1990s, said in an interview today.
"I think most coaches in Spain would tell you that the Real Madrid side needs strengthening in other areas," the Welshman told Sky Sports.
"The president Florentino Perez has gone in for this (sort of singing) over the last three years, Ronaldo, Figo, (Zinedine) Zidane. Unless there are one or two changes I think he might have just gone a bit too far."
Figo plays on the right of midfield for Real, the same position Beckham has occupied for Manchester United for a decade.
Toshack doubts whether Beckham, signed from United this week for #&8364;35 million, has the footballing and psychological armoury to do well in Spain.
"I'm not so sure that Beckham has got the character and kind of qualities to play in that central midfield role that this Madrid side needs," Toshack said.
He said the Real fans were notoriously hard to please, as Brazil striker Ronaldo found early last season following his move from Inter Milan.
"They're an unforgiving crowd you know, I mean 60 to 65,000 every week and if you hit a couple of bad passes then they'll let you know.
"You have to go to the Basque country, Pamplona, San Sebastian, Bilbao, they can be very hostile, difficult matches, Valladolid on a cold evening in December, so it's not all roses in the garden," Toshack said.
"It will be a big task for him but it's an opportunity that he has to take."