With Ronaldo’s departure, the question on everyone’s lips is who will Real Madrid sign to replace him? Some suggestions include Mariano Diaz, Joao Felix, Lewandowski and Neymar. But which one is the best? We’ll look at them all and see which one we think will last the longest. There’s no need to get too excited, however, as we’ll be discussing all four candidates in depth shortly.
Mariano Diaz
Having already spent a season with French club Lyon, Mariano Diaz has returned to Real Madrid in the hopes of replacing Cristiano Ronaldo in the No.7 shirt. The Spaniard’s move back to Real Madrid is worth around 23 million euros, which is a substantial amount of money for a striker. The move comes after Ronaldo completed a stunning move to Juventus. While many expected Diaz to be a long-term replacement for the Portuguese star, the move has been complicated by the pending transfer of Real Madrid’s number seven shirt to a team of the same name.
The Spaniard has been out of action for over two and a half months for Real Madrid, having only played 10 games and logging just three49 minutes. Real Madrid fans have had reason to feel disappointed, but it’s not the fault of the player. Lopetegui has a lot of work ahead of him, and he needs to find a way to keep Mariano’s level high.
The hamstring injury that Mariano Diaz suffered is rare and complicated. It’s a problem with a long recovery period, and his return date is uncertain. It’s an additional psychological blow given the fact that Real Madrid currently has eight different players injured, including Cristiano Ronaldo and Lopetegui. So, if you are wondering whether Mariano Diaz will be a good fit to replace Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid, read on to find out if it’s a good decision for the club.
Joao Felix
Former Atletico Madrid striker Joao Felix has been dubbed the heir apparent to Cristiano Ronaldo. He is similar to the Portuguese legend and has had his first call up to the senior team. Felix’s performances for Benfica have earned him his first-team call up. His first league goal came against Sporting Lisbon and became the youngest ever goal in the Lisbon derby.
Manchester United are also interested in signing Felix, although the latter has an astronomical buy-out clause. Despite this, the club are unlikely to get rid of him after the season. Barcelona were able to fend off Manchester City and other top clubs to sign Felix. However, many believe his value will skyrocket in the coming years. So, is Felix the right player to replace Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid?
The first criterion for a replacement for Ronaldo is the player’s ability to make his teammates better. As a setter, Felix provides excellent service and is capable of dovetailing with his teammates. Atletico have a world-class player, but they are not using him to his full potential. It’s difficult to say. Only time will tell. So, let’s keep our fingers crossed.
While the Portuguese striker has an exceptional shooting range, he has no real flair for long-range strikes. But his passing stats are impeccable. He is in the top eight percent of forwards in La Liga in terms of passing accuracy per ninety minutes. He also ranks in the top three percent for passes into the penalty area and through balls. In terms of expected assists, Felix is the only forward in the La Liga who has a better passing accuracy than Cristiano Ronaldo.
Neymar
Florentino Perez is in the market for a new striker and has already met with Neymar’s father. If he is signed, Neymar would become the long-term replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo at Real Madrid. The Brazilian has settled in well at Paris Saint-Germain and is reported to have fallen out with Edinson Cavani. Neymar is rumoured to be close to Lucas Moura and Dana Alves.
The Brazilian moved to PSG last summer for a record EUR222 million and has been dazzling since his arrival in Paris. He has scored 26 goals in 25 games this season for the Ligue 1 club. If he were to replace Ronaldo at Real Madrid, he would be worth more than double of what he cost PSG. While Neymar might be an ideal replacement for Cristiano Ronaldo, a rumoured Kylian Mbappe is a better bet, as he would be less expensive.
Despite the rumors that Real Madrid are interested in Neymar, they aren’t actually planning on signing the Brazilian. In the meantime, they are still interested in two PSG players. While the French side are unwilling to sell their star player, Real should make a move for Kylian Mbappe. In a few months, Real Madrid will be able to sign Neymar for a record fee.
Lewandowski
While many say it’s unlikely Lewandowski will replace Cristiano Ronalda at Real Madrid, the Polish international is a highly impressive striker. A dazzling penalty area performance and immaculate balance are the hallmarks of Lewandowski’s game. And he’ll bring the renowned Bayern Munich players with him. While it’s unlikely Lewandowski will join the Spanish giants, it would be tantalising for Madridistas to see the two play together.
While the rumours surrounding Lewandowski’s transfer to Real Madrid may be a ploy by Bayern, they are hardly untrue. The fact is Bayern didn’t pay enough to sign Thiago and Alaba. Both players eventually went on to join Liverpool and Real Madrid. Benzema and Lewandowski’s agent are linked to both clubs and he’s apparently threatening to play for Los Blancos for much less than he’s worth.
Bayern Munich, who are German champions, have also been linked to the Portuguese striker. The player has also been linked with a move to Barcelona. While Bayern Munich stand firm on their EUR60 million valuation of Lewandowski, the club have yet to agree on a deal. Real Madrid president Florentino Perez wants Lewandowski to replace Ronaldo, who is set to retire at the end of the season.
If he’s going to leave Bayern, Lewandowski must be a very good fit at Real Madrid. The German international has previously flirted with a move to Real Madrid. His agent has confirmed that talks have been ongoing. Moreover, he’s in the best form of his career. With 32 goals in 34 appearances for Bayern, Lewandowski will surely be a great addition to the Spanish club. If Lewandowski does indeed sign a deal with Real Madrid, Karim Benzema will likely be the next one to be out of the team.
Aurelien Tchouameni
Aurelien Tchouameni is set to sign for Real Madrid and join the Spanish giants for a reported PS85m. The young French midfielder is said to have turned down a 12-million pound move to Paris Saint-Germain in favour of the Real Madrid. Although his salary has not yet been announced, it is expected to be around six million pounds per year. The decision by Real Madrid is surprising because they missed out on Kylian Mbappe, the French national team star. But they’re clearly committed to a generation of players and are preparing themselves for the future. While Manchester United have not made a signing yet, Real Madrid have already begun a search for a new midfielder.
With Ronaldo and Leo Messi out of the picture, the Spanish giants are looking to replace the experienced trio. In a bid to replace the Portuguese striker, Real Madrid have brought in Tchouameni, a French midfielder who has made 37 first-team appearances for Bordeaux. He then moved to Monaco, where he has played 95 times in two and a half seasons.
After signing for Real Madrid, the young winger has expressed his delight at the decision to join Real Madrid. In a statement, he thanked the club’s president, his agent and his family for helping him achieve his dream of playing in Madrid. Tchouameni is a brilliant talent with the ability to make an impact as soon as next season. However, if he doesn’t start right away, it could potentially harm his chances of representing France in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Eden Hazard
When he joined Real Madrid in the summer, Hazard looked like the perfect man to replace Cristiano Ronaldo. He was the best player in the world at Chelsea and scored twice in the Europa League final. However, a combination of injuries and poor fitness have hindered Hazard and he has lost his starting spot to Vinicius Junior. So does Hazard really deserve a chance to replace Cristiano Ronaldo?
Juventus are interested in signing Real Madrid striker Eden Hazard but the Spanish giants do not want to spend too much on the Belgium international. Real Madrid want to recoup the PS62 million that they paid for Hazard two years ago. So they are open to offers in the region of PS30 million. Juve have already made their interest known and are in the market for a striker to replace Cristiano Ronaldo. Hazard is a great fit for Juventus, but the deal will have to be financially sound for him.
While there are no guarantees that Hazard will replace Cristiano Ronaldo, he is a great replacement for the Frenchman. The only question is whether Hazard can compete with Ronaldo in goal production. After all, he has a decade to adjust to a new role. He’s a great passer and dribbler and is a brilliant footballer to have around as a striker. But there are other questions he needs to answer before he lands on Real Madrid.
