Hazard, Neymar can't replace Ronaldo

 

Former Real Madrid defender Michel Salgado says Cristiano Ronaldo is irreplaceable and the Los Blancos must build a new team without him.

 The Portuguese international joined Juventus on Tuesday for a reported fee of €100million, signing a four-year deal. Chelsea winger Eden Hazard and Paris Saint Germain forward Neymar are viewed as potential replacements for Ronaldo. Salgado, however, feels Madrid new boss should avoid the temptation of signing a new superstar to succeed the 33-year-old.

 "Ronaldo is irreplaceable. It is a mistake try to replace him because you cannot replace him individually," he said.

 Madrid has also been linked with Mohamed Salah and Kylian Mbappe and before CR7 left, however, the Spanish giants denied making approaches to PSG duo.

 "You just have to try to build a team that works and the goals he scored, the team can score now some other way. Not just one player, but maybe through the system.

 "Hazard has had a great World Cup, Neymar is a player that makes the difference, and I'm sure the Bernabeu would like him. Any of them could be very important."

 Ronaldo said in an open letter published on the Madrid website that he was seeking to start a "new cycle" in his career.