Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus: Eden Hazard and Kylian Mbappe face huge World Cup audition to take his place at Real Madrid
The two favourites to replace Ronaldo come face-to-face in tonight's semi-final between France and Belgium
Cristiano Ronaldo has left Real Madrid on the same day his two potential replacements meet in the biggest game of their lives.
France and Belgium's World Cup semi-final now has an extra edge to it after it was confirmed the superstar will complete his €105m move to Juventus.
Two of the bookmakers' favourites to replace the Portuguese superstar are Eden Hazard and Kylian Mbappe.
And there is good reason for this. Madrid president Florentino Perez has made a habit of signing the World Cup's star player.
Look at Mesut Ozil in 2010 and James Rodriguez in 2014. You can guarantee Perez will look no further than tonight's clash and Sunday's final to scout his new galactico, after Neymar faltered in Russia.
Chelsea's Hazard dazzled in his showdown with Neymar as Belgium stunned Brazil in the quarter-finals, while Mbappe outshone Lionel Messi when France and Argentina met in the last-16.
But now they come up against each other in a bid to be this World Cup's standout performer and the timing is uncanny.
Hazard, 27, has long-been linked to Madrid and makes no secret of one day.
After an incredible World Cup, turmoil at Chelsea and now Ronaldo's departure - there is a sense that everything is falling into place for his potential move to Spain.
But he knows tonight is the big audition, as he faces 19-year-old Mbappe. Madrid were forced to deny reports suggesting they had already agreed a deal for the teenage sensation last week, but their interest remains clear.
French football expert Julien Laurens told ESPN it would be 'impossible' for Madrid to lure Mbappe away from PSG this summer, after the Ligue 1 champions just signed him on a permanent deal.
However, Ronaldo's move could change everything, as could tonight's match.
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