'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
In a move that sent shockwaves across the globe this summer, Portuguese superstar Cristiano Ronaldo decided to call time on his Real Madrid career, departing the La Liga outfit and completing a £88 million mega transfer to join Juventus in the Seria A.
Having guided the Galacticos to claim 4 UEFA Champions League trophies during his stay in the Spanish capital, the attacker felt it was time to try another challenge in his career - prompting him to quit the La Liga and complete a switch to the Italian league.
For the first time in almost a decade, Los Blancos have started a new campaign without their talismanic forward. While Ronaldo's departure has dealt a huge blow to Real Madrid and the entire Spanish division, it has also come as a blessing in disguise to a few players at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Therefore, we take a look at 4 Los Blancos superstars who are benefitting from the attacker's departure this season:
#4 Marco Asensio
A highly talented and exciting young player with a lot of technical skills, great commitment, and an unbelievable maturity, Marco Asensio is one of the few superstars who are earning positives from Cristiano Ronaldo's departure this season.
The Spaniard has impressed in every given opportunity ever since he was promoted to the senior team from the youth system in 2016. In fact, he was one of the most influential figures in the squad during the past 2 years under Zinedine Zidane but the presence of Cristiano Ronaldo meant that he had to settle for a limited role.
Now that the Portuguese has departed, Asensio has earned more freedom and responsibility at the Bernabeu, becoming a regular figure in Julen Lopetegui's starting line up and featuring in all of the 3 La Liga matches Los Blancos have played so far this term.
#3 Sergio Ramos
When Cristiano Ronaldo left Real Madrid to join Juventus this summer, so many responsibilities became open at the Santiago Bernabeu and Spanish International, Sergio Ramos attracted a very decent one to himself.
The 32-year-old superstar has now replaced the Portuguese as the main penalty kick taker in Julen Lopetegui's squad and he has earned a brilliant start to the role - scoring all of his 2 effort in the Spanish top flight so far this season.
A defender with the soul of a striker, Ramos has earned a lot of reputation as one of the most prolific goalscoring defenders in the football world for the past few years. With Ronaldo's departure giving him the freedom to take penalty kicks, the Spaniard will only better his records in front of goal during the campaign.
#2 Karim Benzema
Another Real Madrid superstar who has been benefiting from Cristiano Ronaldo's departure this season is French International, Karim Benzema. The striker failed to reach his peak in each of the past few years and he was often singled out for criticism.
But when his Portuguese partner left for the Seria A this summer, Benzema realized that he had step up and take up more goalscoring responsibilities and the 30-year-old has impressed with his performances in the Spanish top flight so far.
The Frenchman has been one of the top performers in the La Liga this season, bagging an incredible 4 goals in 3 appearances and helping Los Blancos to earn a brilliant start to the campaign. With such a great form, only time will tell how far the striker will go during the term.
#1 Gareth Bale
One of the most impressive attackers in the football world at the moment, Welsh superstar, Gareth Bale is on the verge of reaching his full potential at the Santiago Bernabeu this season. The winger joined Real Madrid in the summer of 2013, but for several years, he lived under the shadow of his ex-teammate - Cristiano Ronaldo.
Bale is now benefiting immensely from Ronaldo's decision to quit Real Madrid for the Italian top flight this summer, taking his game to a new dimension and gradually establishing himself as the main superstar in the Spanish capital.
The winger has started the new La Liga campaign in an explosive form, leading Los Blancos attack efficiently and tormenting opposition defenses in the division. Three incredible goals in just 3 appearances predict nothing but greatness for the Welsh International at Santiago Bernabeu during the campaign.
