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Hazard backed to fill Ronaldo's boots at Real Madrid by former Ballon d'Or winner Rivaldo

Eden Hazard is a “spectacular player”, admits Rivaldo, with Real Madrid being backed to sign the Chelsea forward as a long-term successor to the departed Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Blancos saw a talismanic presence head for the exits over the summer, with a €100 million (£88m/$116m) deal taking a five-time Ballon d’Or winner to Juventus.

With Ronaldo now strutting his stuff in Serie A, those left behind in Madrid have struggled to find their attacking spark in 2018-19 – going four games without a goal prior to the international break.

Transfer talk is building as a result, with the Liga giants expected to move for top targets either in January or early next summer.