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Manchester United legend Cristiano Ronaldo has had an illustrious career over the last two decades. The Portuguese icon has etched his name in the history books with countless powerful displays for his club and country. Undoubtedly, he is one of the greatest players ever to grace the pitch.
Ronaldo is the top scorer for his former club Real Madrid (450) and his nation Portugal (115). The 36-year-old has made a sensational return to his beloved club Manchester United in the summer from Juventus.
Ronaldo, of course, made his name with his majestic displays for the Premier League club under Sir Alex Ferguson's tutelage. He won his first UEFA Champions League with United and also his first Ballon d'Or when he was at Old Trafford.
While the Red Devils are currently struggling to dominate the English top flight, Ronaldo remains the X-factor in the team.
However, Ronaldo is not getting any younger and his team needs to find a replacement. It might be too early to say but there is also talk about him leaving the club if the season doesn't end well. For all the trust in him, Ronaldo has rarely failed to deliver but it is time United think of a long-term option.
On that note, let's take a look at
5 players who could replace Cristiano Ronaldo at Manchester United
#5 Dani Olmo
Dani Olmo is one of the youngsters making headlines in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig. The Spaniard possesses high technical skills along with creativity and quick movements, which makes him a player to watch out for. Moreover, Olmo can play in multiple attacking positions, which is an added benefit.
Olmo developed at Barcelona's famed La Masia academy before joining Dynamo Zagreb. Following his majestic displays for the Croatian team, the 23-year-old has moved to RB Leipzig.
It has all been positive for the player since then, enjoying his phenomenal rise for his club and country. For Leipzig, Olmo has racked up 12 goals and 14 assists so far.
#4 Kingsley Coman
Following his arrival at Bayern Munich back in 2015, Kingsley Coman has turned out to be a force to be reckoned with at left-flank. The French winger was on loan for his first two years at Bayern. His talent propelled the Bavarians to make his move permanent in 2017.
Coman has made over 200 appearances, racking up 43 goals and 51 assists during his six-year tenure. His exploits have helped the Bundesliga giants win six Bundesliga titles and a Champions League, among other notable accolades.
Coman has been below the pecking order at the club since the arrival of Leroy Sane. The 25-year-old could seek a move away from the club and will be a perfect long-term solution for United in case of Ronaldo's departure.
#3 Memphis Depay
Memphis Depay joined Manchester United in 2015 from PSV for £25 million. He was handed the much coveted #7 jersey which was once Ronaldo's as he was considered as a long-term solution for Manchester United.
Rising up in the ranks at PSV, Depay's dribbling skills and his eye for goal were just like a young Ronaldo. United paid a hefty sum to secure the services of the player in 2015.
Unfortunately, the move did not pan out as expected with Depay enduring a tough two years at Old Trafford. Following his disappointing stint in the Premier League, the Dutch forward improved drastically and resurrected his career with Lyon before moving to Barcelona.
A world class forward now, Depay is immensely versatile with his daunting runs, immaculate passing and great finishing abilities from the left flank.
Although his first stint at Old Trafford was a failure, a second stint could do wonders. Depay is now more of a complete forward and has the caliber to replace someone like Ronaldo on the left.
#2 Marcus Rashford
It is no secret that Cristiano Ronaldo has been an inspiration for Marcus Rashford. The Manchester United academy graduate has been impressing fans and critics alike with his majestic displays on the pitch.
Blessed with pace and dribbling skills, Rashford has proven himself to be an asset to United over the last few seasons. In the 2020-21 season, the Englishman racked up 21 goals and fifteen assists for the Red Devils.
Operating on the left-wing, Rashford likes to dislodge defenses by cutting inside, just like his idol Ronaldo. Being good at set-pieces, the 24-year-old is also persistent with Ronaldo-esque knuckle ball freekicks.
This might be exactly the case where Ronaldo's replacement is already at the club where he should be right now.
#1 Joao Felix
Joao Felix takes our No. 1 spot being the ideal replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo. The youngster has already been touted as Ronaldo's heir in Portugal and could be United's best option in the coming years.
Following his majestic displays for Benfica, Felix became Atletico Madrid's most expensive player in their history (€126million). The Portuguese wonderkid, who won the Golden Boy in 2019, is still finding his feet in Spain but there is no doubting his talent.
Felix has all the traits to become a sensation and Manchester United can provide the 22-year-old the highest platform to showcase his caliber. If Felix fulfills his potential, there is every chance that he could be a matchwinner like Ronaldo.
