Gareth Bale can't replace Cristiano Ronaldo like Neymar will replace Messi according to Julien Faubert

Cristiano Ronaldo is Real Madrid’s all-time leading goalscorer

Former Real Madrid winger Julien Faubert has stated that the club will be plunged into uncertainty if Cristiano Ronaldo leaves the club, as per the reports on AS. Faubert believes Brazil’s Neymar will one day be a worthy successor to Lionel Messi at Camp Nou, but feels his former club will struggle to replace the Portuguese forward.

The 30-year-old has been heavily linked with a move away from the Santiago Bernabeu in recent weeks, with reports in England suggesting that he could end his illustrious career at Old Trafford while other rumours indicate that he could well be making a big-money move to Ligue 1’s Paris Saint-Germain this summer.

This news has unsettled the Bernabeu faithful and it has been 'irritating' the club president Florentino Perez, who is now considering selling the Portugal captain if clubs are willing to trigger his buy-out clause. While rivals, Barcelona have the likes of Neymar, who is capable of succeeding Messi at Camp Nou and has done so in the past few months during the latter’s absence, Los Blancos, on the other hand, don’t have anyone capable of replacing the club’s all-time leading goalscorer.

Ronaldo has worked harder than Messi: Faubert

Faubert, who was loaned from West Ham to Madrid bizarrely in 2009, had spoken to AS ahead of the Clasico and he does not feel Bale is capable enough of replacing Ronaldo at Bernabeu.

“Neymar has the same quality and power that Messi and Ronaldo have. His level is very high,” Faubert said. “We do not know the same about Bale. After Messi, Barca will have Neymar, but after Ronaldo, we do not know what will happen to Madrid.”

“Messi did not have to work too hard to get to his level. He is pure talent. Ronaldo, on the other hand, has had to work hard every day to reach his level.”

Meanwhile, Ronaldo’s teammate Karim Benzema could face jail time after pleading guilty to his involvement in blackmailing Mathieu Valbuena in a sex-tape scandal and his compatriot Faubert has admitted he is shocked to hear the news.

“People are surprised.” he added. “I love Benzema as a player and person, but what am I supposed to think now?”

Neymar has stepped up for Barcelona in Messi’s absence

Guti was as good as Messi and Zidane: Faubert

The former West Ham winger had a short stint at the Spanish capital in 2009 and he has heaped praise on his former teammate Guti, insisting that he is a combination of Messi and Zinedine Zidane.

“Guti was like Zidane and Messi,” Faubert recalled.

“He saw football differently. He was a player worthy of the Ballon d'Or.”