Do Real Madrid already have their Ronaldo replacement in Gareth Bale?

But the biggest problem of all was Cristiano Ronaldo. It seemed there was only room for Bale or Ronaldo at the club. Now there is only Bale.

Ronaldo’s move to Juventus means the 29-year-old could be about to have his best season for the Champions League holders yet.

When Bale and Ronaldo played together, Bale averaged a perfectly respectable 0.46 goals per game. Without Ronaldo, his return almost doubles to 0.81 goals per game.

Now the team will be set up to get the best out of him, rather than Ronaldo, he could improve on those numbers even further.

Fresh start

In the immediate aftermath of his spectacular double in the Champions League Final win over Liverpool, Bale suggested he could be looking to move on this summer.

He only made 20 starts in La Liga last season, despite being fit for most of it. He featured in league action much more regularly in the second-half of the campaign, but only when the title was out of sight and the Champions League became the main focus.

Zinedine Zidane was very good for Real Madrid, taking over at a low point and leading them to three consecutive Champions League wins. But he wasn’t necessarily good for Bale as an individual.

There have been reports that they had a very cold relationship. And the former Spurs star tended to be left out in the big games. He only made one start in the Champions League knockout stages last term, in the quarter-final second-leg against Juventus, when he was hauled off at half-time.

Now that Julen Lopetegui has taken over, Bale can start afresh under a new manager.

No Ronaldo. No Zidane. No excuses now. This is Bale’s chance to become the most important player at one of the biggest clubs in the world.

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