Bayern Munich chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has revealed his clever tactic that has been behind the transfers of a number of top European talents.
The Bundesliga outfit signed 18-year-old Renato Sanches in April for a whopping €35m, which could rise €45m based on appearances.
Rummenigge admitted that Bayern were lucky to sign the Portuguese starlet for that figure, claiming that it would have risen massively following Euro 2016.
The 60-year-old legend also recalled the moment he signed for Bayern as a player back 1974, stating that his father's advice still resonates in him today.
Speaking to "?Focus, the Bayern chairman said:
"?"I was really nervous and hectic Robert Swan, the former Bayern manager, took me and my father then left for ten minutes alone. We should make a decision the HSV or Bayern.
"Then my father told me: 'If an offer from Bayern Munich has come, you go to Bayern Munich!'"
And it is this exact advice that Rummenigge drills in to every hopeful signing, including Renato Sanches, who exceeded expectation at Euro 2016 by being one of the star performers, leading Portugal to the first major trophy in their history.
"I'll tell you that today every young player that comes to Bayern Munich I tell them what I've done, you too can create.
#SVLFCB ist ein Geschenk des #FCBayern an Karl-Heinz Rummenigge zu dessen 60. Geburtstag: https://t.co/dnc2K5D8yf pic.twitter.com/qKKQ8Ofc9u
"It's extraordinary when someone plays at the Euros like he [Renato Sanches] did at the tender age of 18. I was nowhere near that level at the age of 18. But then again, he does seem to have extraordinary talents.
"We are happy that we made the decision to sign him quite early, after the Champions League quarterfinal tie against Benfica. And we are very happy that we had the courage to spend big on him in April because €35m is a lot of money.
"Bayern would not have been able to afford him had we tried to sign him after the Euros. We would be talking about crazy money now. And he would definitely not be playing in the Bundesliga next term then."