Real Madrid were not shy about using foreign players years before the English game was taken over by those outsiders whom I was told " wouldn`t stand up to the robust tackling and the cold winters", of course the puny foreigners brought the English game to a much higher level.
To get back to Real Madrid, the south American countries were supplying the Spanish side with great players remember the great Juan Schiffanio and Santamaria, [those two from memory], going back to their famous 5 European Cups in a row 1955-60.
Their 1960 7-3 win over Eintract Franfurt featured two of the worlds greatest Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas both greats shared the 7 goals between them, Spanish league football was never bettered. There is no harm bringing in class players, the English premier league may be between 4 or 5 top teams but it is good entertainment for the neutral football fan, as for Villa they will always be also-rans, O`Neill needs rich backers otherwise it is a mad scramble for the leftovers.