Madrid - In 1972 American singer Johnny Nash had a massive hit with More Questions Than Answers. That song is very appropriate today regarding the record-breaking spending spree of Spanish giants Real Madrid.
Real have spent an astonishing total of 256 million euros (366.88 million dollars) this summer, on six players: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United), Kaka (AC Milan), Karim Benzema (Lyon), Xabi Alonso (Liverpool), Raul Albiol (Valencia) and Esteban Granero (Getafe).
But there are many more questions than answers in the Madrid late summer air right now.
In the first place, how have Real managed to find such a massive pile of cash to buy these players, in the midst of a profound economic crisis?
Secondly, how do Real expect to recuperate their massive investment?
Thirdly, what has been the reaction inside and outside Spain to their profligacy?
But perhaps the biggest questions: are the whites really now in a position to challenge the domestic and European domination of historic rivals Barcelona?
Regarding the first question, Real have refused to give details about how they have financed these signings. However, according to Spanish press reports in June, Real have been granted loans of around 75 million euros apiece from Banco Santander and Caja Madrid.
Real president Florentino Perez has apparently backed up these loans by pointing out that the club expects to rake in up to 600 million euros over the next five years from Mediapro, the company which has bought Real's television rights.
Both banks have been criticized for lending so much money to a football club, during a "credit squeeze" in which many Spanish companies have encountered problems in extending their credit lines.
Miguel Blesa, president of Caja Madrid, felt obliged in June to explain that Real have offered him "more than sufficient guarantees" about repaying the loan.
"We will continue to give credit," Blesa added, "to anyone who asks us for it and gives us guarantees about how they will pay it back."
Many sections of the Spanish media, particularly Catalan daily Sport, have spent all summer asking how Real have managed to obtain these loans in such difficult times.
Real seem to be planning to pay for Ronaldo, Kaka and company in three ways: by asking more from Mediapro for their television rights, by increasing season ticket prices by around 20 per cent - and by the sale of replica shirts and other items.
According to Madrid sports daily AS last week, Real expect to sell worldwide around one million Ronaldo replica shirts by Christmas, and about half a million Kaka shirts.
They have not given details of how many replica shirts for these stars they have sold so far.
Perez defended his spending spree in June by saying that "signing great players is always a good investment", and justified his policy by pointing out that he managed to more than double Real's income during his previous stint as president, from 2000 to 2006, by signing the likes of Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and David Beckham.
Even so, he has faced a veritable storm of criticism, not only for the record-breaking transfer fees but also for the massive salaries that he will be paying to Ronaldo et al.
Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, a confessed Barcelona fan, made it clear in June that he found Perez' profligacy distasteful at a time when unemployment in Spain is close to 18 per cent.
The public figure who has been most vituperative in his criticisms of Perez has been Barcelona archbishop Lluis Martinez Sistach.
Finally, will Perez' signings change the balance of power in Spanish and European football?
Last Wednesday's 5-0 friendly romp away to Borussia Dortmund has been interpreted as positive evidence by the Madrid media and "madridista" fans.
Coach Manuel Pellegrini is clearly working hard to integrate his newcomers into an effective collective system. Kaka and Xabi Alonso, in particular, are already looking sharp and productive, though Ronaldo and Benzema still seem slightly "out of sync" with their team-mates.
On the other hand, though, Barcelona have quickly picked up where they left off last season, as Sunday's 3-0 Supercup destruction of hapless Athletic Bilbao demonstrated.
