5 players who can replace Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid

Cristiano Ronaldo has been the poster boy and symbol of greatness for Real Madrid ever since the departure of former club legend Raúl González.

The Portuguese superstar has been probably the best piece of business ever done in the history of Real Madrid as his goals and trophy haul attest to.

However, every good player eventually gets to a point where they can no longer deliver and even a superb physical specimen like Ronaldo is beginning to fell the effects of time.

While it is too early to write off the five-time Ballon d’Or winner, it would also be a good idea for Real President Florentino Pérez to begin to look at players to replace the legend as it has become clear that Gareth Bale’s constant injuries will prevent him from fulfilling this role.

Here is a shortlist of players who have shown that they have the qualities needed to supplement and then eventually replace Cristiano.

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#5 Mohamed Salah (Liverpool & Egypt)

Rumours linking the Pharaoh to Real Madrid are gathering pace

One of the best players in the world at the moment, Salah’s performances for an inconsistent Liverpool side has won him rave reviews and sees him currently topping the scorers' chart in the Premier League.

Blessed with pace, an ability to play almost anywhere across the frontline and an intelligence that is possessed by only the best players in the world, the Egyptian international has added a prodigious work rate, strength and the ability to finish to his skillset.

The Salah that rocked up to Anfield after two very good seasons at AS Roma is no longer the rough but promising diamond that joined Chelsea from Swiss club, Basel. He is now a complete modern winger in the mould of the man he may replace; CR7.

Given that he just joined Jurgen Klopp’s red machine this season, it would take a huge offer (something in the Ousmane Dembele price-tag territory) to get him to the Santiago Bernabeu but if he does sign up for Los Merengues, Real Madrid would have acquired a player who is almost perfect currently but still has room to grow and get better: a truly frightening concept.

#4 Iñaki Williams (Athletic Bilbao & Spain)

Williams has the skill set to become world class

In terms of physique & style, there is hardly anyone more suited to replace Cristiano than the highly rated Williams.

The Bilbao-born son of Liberian immigrants, the 23-year-old has been on the radar of leading European clubs for a while now and it is one of the great mysteries of modern football as to why he is yet to make the step up to a club that is more in line with his skillset.

Pacy, strong and intelligent (just like the man he will eventually replace), Iñaki had been a hot item of gossip even during his days in the youth set-up at Athletic Bilbao.

There is a nagging sense of unfulfilled potential with the young winger though, regular La Liga watchers will attest to the fact that there are still quite a number of flaws in his game that need to be addressed before he can even begin to think of being an adequate replacement for one of the greatest players in Real Madrid’s illustrious history.

Rumour has it that the young man is on the verge of extending his contract at San Mames and increasing his buyout clause to €60m, a figure that Real Madrid will not find impossible to match.

#3 André Silva (AC Milan & Portugal)

Silva will get better as his confidence levels increase

A national teammate of the mercurial Ronaldo already, Silva has long been mentioned as the ideal candidate to step into the goal scoring shoes for A Seleção in the event of Ronaldo’s retirement.

Clever and elusive rather than quick thinking and pacy, the striker is still very raw and has several elements to his game that need polishing.

He is still too easy to bully off the ball and does not seem to have the explosive talents of his countryman, he also has the tendency to drift in and out of games if he is not involved adequately.

What he has going for him though are two very quick feet, an ability to read the game and be in the right place at the right time as well as a desire to constantly push himself and improve.

The Portuguese talent is yet to set Serie A alight since his €38m move to AC Milan from FC Porto but this state of affairs is not expected to last forever as the club is still struggling to find a coherent playing strategy after getting in 11 players following a €200m transfer splurge in the summer transfer window.

There is no idea how much the Milan giants would demand if Real Madrid were to make known their interest in the Portuguese star but whatever the amount, it would be a calculated gamble as it is obvious that as long as he is willing to push himself and improve, Silva would be a great choice to eventually replace his national team captain.

#2 Leroy Sané (Manchester City & Germany)

Perhaps the closest to CR7 in terms of playing style, Sané has all the tools to become a world class player

The fleet-footed German winger who is currently destroying defences in the English Premier League, Sane appears to be the most natural successor to the number 7 throne; a number that is usually worn only by Real Madrid royalty (Ferenc Puskas, Emilio Butragueño, Raúl González and Cristiano himself are among the illustrious name to have won the Number 7 jersey for The Whites).

Sané has been one of the youngsters to watch in world football ever since he burst onto the scene in Gelsenkirchen for Schalke 04.

The young lad who is the product of a marriage between an Olympic gymnast (who won a bronze medal); his mother Regina Weber and a former Senegalese international Souleymane Sané, has exploded into life in his second season in England and is now showing the reason why Manchester went all out to get his signature for a reported fee of £37m.

A mesmerizing dribbler whose babyish mien hides a fierce competitor, Sané is a deceptively fast winger who is adept at functioning on either wing. He possesses a knack for goal scoring like the man he may replace, registers his fair share of assists and is very strong and difficult to knock off the ball.

Replacing Ronaldo with the young German winger will certainly be a like for like change (imagine a 21-year-old version of CR7 who is primarily a left-footer) as it has become obvious watching the youngster thrive under Pep Guardiola’s tutelage that the former Schalke 04 starlet has all the qualities to be a world-class player in the nearest future.

It is doubtful, however, that Manchester City would be willing to part with such a talent and if they do, expect the transfer fee to rival the reported €180m which PSG will pay to AS Monaco next season for Kylian Mbappé

#1 Kylian Mbappé (PSG & France)

A true star boy, Mbappé is already being spoken of in Ballon d'Or terms

Blessed with searing pace, amazing dribbles and an ability to finish like a more experienced player, PSG's Mbappé has the tools needed to not only effectively complement but supplant the Portuguese superstar as well.

Real supremo Pérez is surely still disappointed that he failed to get the youngster to swap Monte Carlo for Madrid this summer and may do whatever it takes to get the French international to the Santiago Bernabeu in the nearest future

The youngster’s ascent to the pinnacle of football has been sensational and it seems to be a journey that is set to culminate in him being crowned the world’s premier footballer.

To show just how ridiculous Mbappé’s ascent has been, it beggars belief to note that this is just his second full season as a professional footballer.

Pundits who have watched the young man many times are already saying there is a sense around the young man that his ceiling will approach that of Messi and Ronaldo; childhood prodigies who have blossomed to star men.

Mbappé has demonstrated the skills and touch of a markedly older player and would be a more-than-adequate-supplement (and eventual replacement) for Cristiano.