Michel Salgado: 'Real Madrid will sign big name to replace Cristiano Ronaldo'

Former Real Madrid defender Michel Salgado has expressed his belief that the club will sign a "big, big name" to replace Cristiano Ronaldo.

Ronaldo ended his record-breaking nine-year stay at the Bernabeu when he joined Juventus in a deal worth around £100m during the summer transfer window.

Madrid were heavily linked with the likes of Neymar, Eden Hazard and Kylian Mbappe to replace their all-time record goalscorer, and Salgado is confident that president Florentino Perez will bring in a new 'Galactico' to make up for the loss of their star asset.

"Everybody was talking about it. I think the big signing this year, the main change, was the manager [Zinedine] Zidane [leaving]. It was another surprise as well," Salgado told Sports Mole.

"Our manager Zidane leaving after winning three Champions Leagues back to back, so it was a complicated summer for us. We went and signed the national manager. We're going to win more possession, team football, to try to score goals in a different way because we don't have a scorer like Cristiano Ronaldo and it's very difficult to find something in the market like that right now.

"Neymar and Mbappe are both at PSG so it's difficult to take them, but I know the president and I know that something's gonna happen in the next transfer window or in the summer. For sure I know Real Madrid are going to sign a big, big name."

Ronaldo scored 450 goals in just 438 appearances for Madrid, helping them to four Champions League crowns in the last five years.