5 players Real Madrid could sign to fill Cristiano Ronaldo's void at the club

After Messi and Ronaldo, Neymar is the next name in the list of footballing icons
After Messi and Ronaldo, Neymar is the next name in the list of footballing icons

The news of Cristiano Ronaldo ending his nine-year love affair with Real Madrid and joining Juventus was a shock to the entire world.

The reigning champions of Italy paid a hefty price of €112 million to sign Ronaldo, hence breaking the heart of every Madrid fan.

Ronaldo during his time at Real Madrid, became the all-time highest goalscorer in the club's history with 450 goals.

Ever since Cristiano has left the team, the Los Blancos have missed a superstar in their ranks in the team and probably that is why teams do not fear them anymore.

They brought in the Spanish boss Julien Lopetegui to take over the reins from Zinedine Zidane who left Madrid after three trophy-laden years, with a hope that he would take the club forward and continue the success.

However, the experiment was a failure as Real slumped to multiple defeats and couldn't handle oppositions on many occasions.

Real Madrid suffered a 5-1 drubbing at the hands of FC Barcelona, with Luis Suarez tearing them apart in the absence of Lionel Messi. This called for a change in management and Lopetegui was sacked following a string of poor performances.

Castilla coach Santiago Solari has brought the team back to winning ways with four wins in four matches.

However, they still miss the shine and brilliance of Cristiano Ronaldo, both on and off the pitch.

That is the reason why president Florentino Perez is looking to bring in some star footballers who can help restore the status of the most successful club in the history of football.

We take a look at five players who could join Real Madrid in the coming days and help the club restore their stature as one of the best teams in Europe.


#1 Neymar Jr.

The Brazilian captain is already a footballing icon, mesmerizing spectators with his skills on the pitch and contributing to whichever team he plays for, thereby making his presence count in every single match he plays in.

Neymar is no alien to being the centre of the footballing world's gossip. His transfer to Paris Saint Germain from Barcelona in the summer of 2017 for a world record fee of €222 million, did turn many heads.

He has been prospering there ever since because he has got out of Messi's shadow, who is and always will be the talisman of Barcelona.

Many say Neymar will return to Barcelona, but Financial Fairplay Regulations(FFP) and a tussle for supremacy with Messi, may hinder boss Ernesto Valverde's attempt to re-sign him. This opens the door for Real Madrid to sign him.

President Perez is in the hunt for a star player and is a long-time admirer of the Brazilian. Neymar moving to Real Madrid will make them much stronger and they could start looking for titles again.

#2 Eden Hazard

Eden Hazard has been the heart of Chelsea's attack ever since he joined them
Eden Hazard has been the heart of Chelsea's attack ever since he joined them

If there is a player who has stood on par with Lionel Messi in the number of successful dribbles and dribbles undertaken, it is undoubtedly Eden Hazard.

The Belgian starlet has been in tremendous form this season and has finally started to make the world believe in his superpowers.

Hazard had an amazing FIFA World Cup run, winning three MOtM awards and he has been in stellar form with Chelsea, scoring seven goals and assisting on four occasions so far this season in the Premier League.

Maurizio Sarri's free-flowing play has benefited the little magician a lot and he seems to be flourishing in the new system.

However, Hazard's heart is in the Spanish Capital and he has made it clear on multiple occasions that someday he would love to don the famous white jersey and play as a Galactico.

But Chelsea does not want to let go of their star man and are ready to fight tooth and nail to prevent it. Hazard could be the perfect fit for the team, with his capability to outfox defenders and score at vital moments.

#3 Kylian Mbappe

Mbappe's performances in the World Cup knockout stages were exceptionally brilliant
Mbappe's performances in the World Cup knockout stages were exceptionally brilliant

The name was unheard of, three seasons before. However, the rise of Kylian Mbappe has been a fairytale of all sorts.

His stint with AS Monaco made the world believe in his footballing powers and since then, there has been no stopping this footballing prodigy.

Mbappe joined Paris St. Germain alongside Neymar and he has flourished in the PSG system, learning from and contributing to a front three that also includes Neymar and the mercurial Edinson Cavani.

He left spectators in awe during the World Cup with his dazzling performances against Argentina, Belgium and in the final against Croatia. No one had an answer to his speed and lethal dribbling skills, which have made him a footballing sensation.

Mbappe's transfer to Madrid seems the most profitable option out of all the available ones, for the Spanish giants. He is only nineteen years of age and has an entire career ahead of him.

He could benefit from playing with the best in the game, if he moves to Real Madrid and become a superstar, on par with Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

#4 Harry Kane

Harry Kane has been the most consistent striker in England for the last three seasons
Harry Kane has been the most consistent striker in England for the last three seasons

We are talking about a player, whose consistency in front of the goal is second to none. The captain of the English football team, Harry Kane's capability to take the game into his own hands and put it to bed, is known to all.

His exploits with Tottenham Hotspur has been nothing short of extraordinary considering the fact he has two Premier League Golden Boots in the last three seasons.

He came close to winning one last season as well, but he was tipped by Liverpool's Mohammed Salah. He has been the most consistent of all Premier League strikers, alongside Manchester City's Sergio Aguero.

To supplement for the lack of a proper striker, Real Madrid captain Sergio Ramos wants Harry Kane to join Madrid.

However, Tottenham will be reluctant to let their starlet go, because they are growing into a team that wants to win a major trophy in the upcoming seasons.

Kane joining Madrid is a possibility, which could impact Madrid's future very positively if the transfer goes through sometime later in the future.

#5 Mauro Icardi

There is no stopping Mauro Icardi, who has massacred oppositions this season
There is no stopping Mauro Icardi, who has massacred oppositions this season

The era of Messi, Aguero, Higuain and Di Maria for Argentina is ending and along with that, a new breed of youngsters is emerging. Spearheading the Argentinean attack is Mauro Icardi who has blossomed into one of the best strikers in the world at the moment.

He is in breath-taking form this season and has taken his game to an altogether different level with his performances, scoring 10 goals so far in this season.

He has been Inter's top scorer in the last three seasons. The ability to snatch a win for his team, from the jaws of defeat makes him almost indispensable to the Nerazzurri.

At the moment, Real Madrid's most affordable option is Icardi because his value is going to sky-rocket towards the end of the season.

News is in the ears that Real are planning to buy him in the January transfer window. This could solve Real's goalscoring woes, because of the natural poacher instincts Icardi possesses and he could be a very good upgrade to long-serving Karim Benzema.

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Edited by Alan John
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