Bale Can Replace Cristiano Ronaldo – Carvajal

Gareth Bale is the right player to replace Cristiano Ronaldo as Real Madrid’s main man, Dani Carvajal has said.

Both Bale and Ronaldo recently signed long-term contract extensions tying them to the European champions for coming years, but Carvajal thinks the Wales international is capable of following in the footsteps of the club’s all-time top goal scorer.

“Possibly. I think so,” he said when asked if Bale could take over Ronaldo’s mantle at the Bernabeu. “Time marches on and although we don’t know when it will be, the day will come when Cristiano won’t be at the top as happens with all great world stars, such as Raul or Figo. I think Bale is the right man for that [when it happens].”

Ronaldo’s new deal runs until 2021 by which time he will be 36 years old. Asked if the Portuguese could continue effectively until that point, Carvajal said: “I can imagine [he could] if we are imagining things, but I think that staying here until then is a bit complicated because the demands [at Real Madrid] are very high.

“He will be in a great mood right now, because he won an award this week and renewed with Madrid and Nike.

“He always demands the best from himself and he can therefore sometimes look angry with himself. But that ambition has been key to all his goals and the Ballon d’Ors he has won.”