2 Men who could potentially carry Real Madrid after Ronaldo's exit

It has been a tough couple of months for madridistas around the globe. First, it was the shocking exit of the player turned coach, Zinedine Zidane, who won three Champions League Titles in his two-and-a-half year stint as the head coach at Real Madrid.

And later, it was the stunning big money transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus for €100 million, which sent shock waves around the entire footballing world, let alone the ailing madridistas.

Let's be honest. Things are not going to be the same at the Spanish capital. I mean, who could have a goal per game ratio, not after 10 games but after 438 games? Absolutely nobody. Ronaldo was, and is a goal-scoring machine.

450 goals for the most decorated European club is no joke. It was a fruitful and trophy filled nine-year stay for Cristiano and he has the right to move after what he has given to the crest and to the fans of Real Madrid.

Ronaldo's move has left a big hole at Real Madrid and a even bigger hole in the goal-scoring department. It's ridiculous to hope that one player at Real Madrid would score 50 goals this season. The goals need to shared by a couple of players. The mantle that was carried by Ronaldo for almost a decade has to be passed on, but who will be the superstar to carry it? Who are the most important players that Real Madrid should build their team around?

Let's have a look.

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#2 Marco Asensio

The replacement gem for the crown?

Asensio, one of Spain's young gems is already a star at Real Madrid. The 22-year old Spaniard has already made quite an impression in his first two-seasons at Madrid, even though he didn't always feature as a regular.

This summer, several clubs were lurking at Madrid's door step to snap away Asensio. But, Asensio's agent- Horace Gaggioli, has squashed those rumors in his interview with CalcioMercato.

With this confidence, Real Madrid can build the team around Asensio with a long-term objective. Can he be the central-figure in one of the best teams in all of sports? Is he that good? Well his abilities and the performances he delivers don't lie.

The pacey-Mallorcan, can play very effectively at the number 7(right wing), number 10 (attacking midfield) and at the number 11 (left wing) positions.

Asensio has been blessed with an innate ball control and dribbling ability to add to the god-given ability to pass with the eagle-eyed vision that he possess. With all the long-range goals that he has scored, he has already shown us what his thunderous left-foot can do.

Even though he still needs to improve his finishing and his weak-foot, Asensio has already shown us how clutch he can be, with all the important goals that he has scored in these two years against big-teams in big matches.

It includes the two fantastic goals that he scored against Barcelona in last season's Supercopa de España, the winner against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League Semi-finals, to add to the goal he scored against the very same opponent, Bayern Munich, in the 2017 quaterfinal match-up.

He even scored a goal in the Champions League final against Juventus. All these showcases the ability of Asensio to step-up and perform in the biggest of games.

Real Betis v Real Madrid - La Liga

Asensio, in his first two seasons at Madrid, has scored 10 and 11 goals respectively. If he could improve it to something around 20 this season, to go by the assists that he racks up, then, we can expect him to have a breakthrough season and it would be safe to say that Asensio will elevate his status from a star to a superstar within the next three years.

#1 Gareth Bale

All eyes will now be on Gareth Bale to deliver

From the day Gareth Bale became a Galactico, he was always overshadowed by Ronaldo. And now, post Ronaldo's departure; Bale will be on the spotlight to carry the team. The expectations will be high on Bale to lead the team in attack and to deliver the goals that win matches.

The one thing that differentiates Bale from the rest of Madrid's current roaster is that Bale has previously led a team as their primary goal-scorer. Bale is one of those players, who could single-handedly destroy the opposing defense. Ask Inter Milan, maybe.

His performance in the 2010 Champions League against Inter Milan, who were the defending Champions at that time, still remains as one of the finest Individual performances the competition has ever seen. His teammate, Rafael van der Vaart, went on to say "Everyone is scared of him [Bale]. Maicon is one of the best defenders in the world, and he's killed him."

That's the kind of Bale that Madrid would like to see next season.

Tottenham Hotspur v FC Internazionale Milano - UEFA Champions League

More importantly, Bale is a natural goal-scorer. In La Liga, he has scored 70 goals in just 126 appearances and his overall tally stands at 88 goals in 189 appearances for Madrid. All these stats prove his goal-scoring prowess.

Bale, as we all know, started his career as a left-back. And his transition to a world-class winger has been nothing but spectacular. But, the transition hasn't restricted him in doing his defensive duties.

The ability to fall back, the scary pace that he possesses, the knack to score, etc has made him a complete package. All these set aside, Bale's biggest issue is his recurring injuries. And if Madrid are willing to stick with Bale, they should only pray that their key player is available all through the season.

What Bale needs to do more next season and what Ronaldo-less Madrid expect from Bale.

⚽🔝 @GarethBale11, una chilena para la historia...#CHAMP13NS | #HalaMadrid pic.twitter.com/AUETjmWwMh

— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) May 27, 2018

Bale was the main-main at Tottenham and he is still the main-man for his national team, Wales. When Benitez took over the reigns from Ancelotti, he tried to make Bale as the central figure; which didn't work. But now, Bale has a second chance to be the leading man at the biggest football club in the world and it is the time for him to step-up and take the challenge head-on.