Real Madrid would be better off signing Kylian Mbappe to replace Cristiano Ronaldo than breaking the bank to land Neymar, according to Steve McManaman.
Ronaldo left the Bernabeu in July to join Italian champions Juventus, a transfer which saw the Spanish giants pocket £105m.
Real were expected to make a marquee signing to replace the Portuguese and were linked with moves for Paris Saint-Germain’s star strikers.
However, the reigning European champions surprisingly opted to re-sign Mariano Diaz from Ligue 1 side Lyon.
Should the option to sign Mbappe or Neymar arise in the future, McManaman believes his old side would be better served buying the France international, who he reckons will play at the highest level for the next decade.
"If Neymar comes, the situation will be difficult, because he previously played for Barca. I know Florentino Perez really wanted him," the former Real and England midfielder told Goal.
"But when you need a reliable star figure for the next ten years, I think you have to bring in players like Mbappe. He's only 19 years old and seems to be a rising star."
"If I had to choose, I would go with the future, so I'd say Mbappe as the ideal replacement for Ronaldo."
Real’s decision not to replace Ronaldo - their record goalscorer - with a big-name player has led many to question their transfer policy, but not McManaman.
"Madrid are actually spending a lot of money this summer but didn't replace Ronaldo with a superstar. They brought in Thibaut Courtois, brought back Mariano, and a promising young Br azilian Vinicius Junior,” he added.
"I have no problem with the transfer policy. You can't always spend money every season. Buying young players is an approach they are now using. You have to buy a young player, you have to make him a better player, and hope he can be a mainstay "
"To not buy megastars makes Madrid's transfer activities seem passive. But that's what they have done in recent years and remain champions. So I have no problem with the transfer policy."
Real president Perez will face a difficult task to lure Mbappe away from the Parc des Princes in the future as the 20-year-old hitman has his heart set on staying in the French capital.