Cristiano Ronaldo's Real Madrid departure has left the club looking for a new star player and they already have one on their books.
Gareth Bale may have hinted at his own exit after the Champions League final - in which he scored twice, including a superb overhead kick goal - in Kiev, but the fact that Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo have both moved on has changed things.
The Welshman wasn't one of Zidane's favourite players, while he had also had to share the spotlight with Ronaldo since his 2013 move to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu.
Now, though, he can be the star player with those two figures gone.
While he was willing to consider a summer move, the change in circumstances means that he has changed his mind and his entourage now believe he'll stay in the Spanish capital, following positive talks with Julen Lopetegui and the club.
Real Madrid are convinced that Bale should be their star player, their 'franchise player', for the 2018/19 season.
There is nobody else currently in the squad who boasts his potential and he is the one who has his level of marketing pull, even if it doesn't quite come close to Ronaldo's.
Lopetegui's plan is for the forward to play alongside Karim Benzema in attack and to play close to the area.
Ronaldo's exit means there is a need for someone else to score the goals and Bale has shown that he can do this when he is healthy - as he has been since last November.
The 29-year-old is keen to take up the challenge and believes he can show his best under Lopetegui if the coach gives him confidence.
Zumzy
128
Bale has nothing to prove. I think he can take over Ronaldo's place and even do much better. He has been waiting patiently for this day.. Not Neymar who couldn't wait for his own turn.
Naj316
123
Like how cavani took over ibrahimoviç at psg, but nothing is changing😂😂😂🚼🚼
Pedcdekprs
87
In as much as Bale is a good player, it unthinkable that realmadrid will expect to challenge for any trophies without acquring key players. Cavani is better than nothing considering that Bale is prone to injuries. we should allow benzema to leave, else he will have to go on free transfer.
bohnpr
85
Gareth Bale can stay at Madrid and take up the challenge created by the departure of Rinaldo, but Let Benzema leave he has nothing left to prove. Furthermore let Madrid acquire the services of Mbappe, Kane and Carvini..
KaranJ
36
if zere is no1 to get in market to replace cr7.. ofcourse Bale would have to take the burden.. but 50 goals per season.. will be difficult with lopetegui style
obiolisah
14
bale got this in the bag he can replace a 33 year old Ronaldo easily, the Ronaldo fans are blind Ronaldo played almost every single game where bale was sitting on the bench were Zidane left him there, comon people bale is better than old Ronaldo you will see when he will score 50+ goals.
you have to an extent said the right thing, but be sire that bale may never score more than 30 goals a season. i doubt if real will put the burden on his shoulders. he will rather be a team player that can get a goal only when in a position. he is not selfish, because that trait only comes with a certain self-belief, he doesnt have that. that was what made the difference for messi and ronaldo, being confident enough to go solo. besides ronaldo's eye for goal is incomparable, any point of the pitch is close enough. you want to talk about free kicks? a good percentage of ronaldo's season goals come from set pieces. for me bale, cannot carry the burden of real madrid; at most he will be a little above the others.