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Captain. Leader. Legend. Those are the three words Real Madrid fans offer when they have to describe Sergio Ramos. After joining from Sevilla in the summer of 2005 for €27 million (most expensive Spanish defender at the time), Sergio Ramos has served Real Madrid for 15 years now and has had an illustrious career.
The 34-year-old centre-back has not only been one of the best in the business for 15 years, but he's also chipped in generously with crucial goals; his set-piece ability is a particularly special talent for someone who plays in the backline.
Sergio Ramos scored 11 La Liga goals this season to break the record for the most goals scored by a defender in a Spanish top-flight season this century.
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With that being said, Real Madrid will find it awfully difficult to find someone who can replicate what Sergio Ramos has done for the club. However, it is something that Los Blancos will have to direct their attention towards straight away.
On that note, let's take a look at five players who could potentially replace Sergio Ramos at Real Madrid.
5 replacements for Sergio Ramos at Real Madrid
#5: Marquinhos
While some might argue that the Paris Saint-Germain centre-back Marquinhos has not hit the heights that were expected of him when he first joined PSG in 2013 for £31 million, at 26 years of age, he still has plenty of time to do that.
While he might not be the tallest centre-back around, he still makes his presence known in aerial duels. Marquinhos has made 19 appearances for PSG this term in the Ligue 1 and has helped them keep 10 cleansheets.
The Brazilian is an impressive passer of the ball and is a great asset when a team is trying to play out from the back. He also possesses a good understanding of the game and is adept in cutting passing lane and regaining possession of the ball.
Having won 20 titles with Paris Saint-Germain, six of them league titles, there is no doubts as to whether Marquinhos has a winner's mentality - something that Real Madrid will want to look for in a Sergio Ramos replacement.
#4: Aymeric Laporte
One of Pep Guardiola's most expensive acquisitions at Manchester City, Aymeric Laporte has been linked with Real Madrid for a while now.
In fact, the player himself had been quizzed about the speculation a while back and though he chose to play it down, the possibility of a move cannot be entirely downplayed. He had told EL Chiringuito via The Times:
“I am very happy here at Manchester City. I am enjoying my football here.
"We are doing great things here. In the last two years we have won eight trophies.”
Laporte offers a level-headed option at centre-back. Besides, the Frenchman has prior experience of playing in the La Liga after having blossomed to the player he is after spending eight years at Athletic Bilbao.
The 26-year-old is renowned for not rushing into tackles and possesses elite passing abilities. However, he was sidelined for a good chunk of the season and will cost Real Madrid a lot of money as well.
#3: Milan Skriniar
Milan Skriniar has been the subject of interest of several top clubs like Manchester United and even Barcelona who have been looking to strengthen their centre-back options. The 25-year-old Slovakian, after joining Inter Milan in 2017, has grown in stature and has become one of the most sought after young defenders in Europe.
Skriniar won't come for cheap, though. He has been Antonio Conte's go-to man at Inter Milan during this season, and it's safe to say that the manager's trust has been paid off. Skriniar is a good passer of the ball and conducts his duties in a calm manner even when the going gets tough.
The Slovakian is also not one to shy away from a challenge. However, if there is one drawback to his game, it is his aerial ability. Skriniar may not be able to dominate La Liga attackers in the air as well as Sergio Ramos does right now. And he will also cost Real Madrid around £70 million.
#2: Kalidou Koulibaly
Kalidou Koulibaly is one of the best options available to Real Madrid in their bid to replace Sergio Ramos.
The 29-year-old Senegalese international is a stoic presence at the back and is easily one of the best defenders in world football right now.
Koulibaly's skillset has a lot in common with that of Sergio Ramos, including an occasional reckless streak. But Koulibaly is dominant in the defensive third, thanks to his excellent tackling and shot-stopping abilities.
However, the Napoli centre-back will probably cost Real Madrid £100 million or more.
#1: Virgil Van Dijk
Virgil Van Dijk is, hands down, the best centre-back in the world. The Dutchman joined Liverpool and immediately improved the side. He played a key role in Liverpool reaching two consecutive UEFA Champions League finals (won one, lost one) and winning their first league title in the Premier League era.
On top of that, Virgin Van Dijk is now set to be a regular contender for the Ballon d'Or, which is something that should definitely excite Real Madrid President Florentino Perez.
Van Dijk is pacy, a great passer of the ball and nearly indomitable in the air. The 29-year-old is a hard worker and not prone to injuries either. However, Real Madrid will have to break the bank if they are to even have a chance of signing Virgil Van Dijk.
