For a man that averaged more than a goal a game while at Real Madrid (2009-2018) the short answer is no, but, can someone come close? There was talk Real were going to splurge on one of either Paris Saint Germain pair Neymar, Kylian Mbappe or Chelsea’s Eden Hazard. None of that has materialised leaving Real to look internally. In truth, it was getting a bit cramped up front anyway at the Santiago Bernabeu and perhaps Ronaldo leaving will finally give chance to Gareth Bale or James Rodriguez, who was loaned out to Bayern Munich, to take up the mantle.
Before worrying about replacing Ronaldo’s technical ability at Real, we should be asking if La Liga can replace his marketing allure? Ronaldo’s battle of greatness with Lionel Messi was what drew people to this league in the first place, and let’s be honest, the more marketable half of the duo has just gone to Italy with Juventus. Without the competition, can the more demure Messi not just continue his strike rate but also keep the eyes of the world from straying over to Serie A and the English Premier League. Or, perhaps we’ll see a new battle strike up between Bale and Antoine Griezmann.
Didn’t exactly ingratiate himself by jumping ship for Real Madrid the night before he was meant to be preparing Spain for their World Cup opener with Portugal. Besides that, he’ll have a job on his hands to replace Zinedine Zidane anyway, after the Frenchman just led Los Blancos to three Champions League wins in a row. He’s already lost the Super Cup to Atletico Madrid, and is being questioned over his lack of transfers. Domestically Real were tanking as it was in that final season with Zidane, so Lopetegui could just become the David Moyes to Zidane’s Alex Ferguson.
If finishing second behind Barcelona last season and winning the Super Cup this week is anything to go by, Atletico are already there. They’ve also spent the most on a single player out of all La Liga clubs on Thomas Lemar (£62.3 million), and are second, fractionally above Real and below Barca, on total summer spend (£111.1 million). Valencia are also back in the mix finishing fourth last season after two 12th place finishes the two seasons before. They’ve spent just less than Villarreal, who finished fifth last season. Either way, neither Real or Barca can afford to relax.
Spanish clubs have won the last five Champions League titles straight and four of the past five Europa League titles. If the departure of Ronaldo and Zidane in anyway weakens Real’s already waning domestic form and makes it even easier on Barcelona to retain their title - breaking up the competition in Spain - could other countries gain a foothold in Europe? Ronaldo’s new club Juventus have lost two of the past four Champions League finals but with the Portuguese in tow, could they make it third time lucky? Or will it be Liverpool or Manchester City, who came so close last year.
