With Karim Benzema officially gone and embarking on his new chapter in Saudi Arabia, Real Madrid find themselves in a rare and awkward position: they need a new No. 9. Not just a goal scorer, but someone capable of replicating Benzema’s blend of intelligence, creativity, and presence, the beating heart of Madrid’s attack for the last decade.

Harry Kane (Tottenham Hotspur)

This was the name that instantly set Madridismo alight. Kane had just come off a stunning 32-goal Premier League season and remains one of the most complete centre-forwards in world football.

• Pros: Elite finishing, brilliant link-up play, leadership, and a tactical profile surprisingly close to Benzema’s.
• Cons: Daniel Levy, as always, is the primary obstacle. Tottenham would only sell for a huge fee, and Madrid’s summer spending isn’t limitless.
• Verdict: The most “ready-made Benzema replacement” on the market, but the most complicated to pull off.

Randal Kolo Muani (Eintracht Frankfurt)

One of Europe’s fastest-rising forwards, Kolo Muani burst onto the scene in 2022/23 with creativity, pace, and intelligence.

• Pros: Excellent movement, very strong in transition, capable of scoring and assisting. At 24, he fits Madrid’s long-term project.
• Cons: Frankfurt value him highly, and he is still not the finished product. Madrid would be betting on potential rather than guaranteed elite output.
• Verdict: A modern, versatile forward who could grow into the role, but patience would be required.

Gonçalo Ramos (Benfica)

A striker who impressed massively with Benfica and for Portugal at the World Cup, Ramos is considered one of Europe’s top emerging No. 9s.

• Pros: Clinical inside the box, relentless presser, and already showing signs of elite movement. His energy could complement Vinícius and Rodrygo well.
• Cons: Still raw in some areas, and his creative game isn’t close to Benzema’s. You’re getting goals, but maybe not the all-round orchestration.
• Verdict: A high-upside investment who could become Madrid’s long-term striker, but he’d still need time.

Kai Havertz (Chelsea)

Havertz is not a traditional striker, but during this summer he was genuinely viewed as an option, more for his tactical flexibility than his pure finishing.

• Pros: Intelligent in the half-spaces, good in tight areas, links play smoothly, and offers positional versatility across the front line.
• Cons: He isn’t a dominant No. 9 and doesn’t guarantee big goal numbers. Madrid would need to shift their style if he were the primary forward.
• Verdict: Useful attacking piece, but not an ideal Benzema successor.

Kylian Mbappé (Paris Saint-Germain)

The elephant in the room, and the nuclear option. Mbappé has long been Madrid’s dream signing, and in summer 2023 the rumour mill was spinning at full speed again with contract tension at PSG.

• Pros: One of the best players in the world. Brings goals, chaos, pace, star power, and instant world-class output. Can play centrally or from the left.
• Cons: The endless PSG–Madrid saga, the financial package involved, and the fact that his best position is still arguably off the left rather than as a pure striker.
• Verdict: Not a like-for-like Benzema replacement, but perhaps too good to pass up. A generational talent who could shift the club’s entire attacking identity.

Strategic Questions

1. Immediate performance or long-term planning?
   Kane offers instant impact; Ramos or Kolo Muani provide longevity.
2. How much do you adapt the system?
   Benzema was a hybrid creator–striker. Few players offer that blend. Do you replace him directly or tactically reinvent the attack?
3. The Mbappé factor.
   Do you wait, spend big, or move quickly on other targets? Madrid’s entire market strategy can hinge on his situation.
4. Balancing the attack.
   With Vinícius and Rodrygo developing rapidly, the new striker must complement rather than overshadow or clash with them.

Conclusion

Replacing Benzema is not a one-player puzzle, it’s a strategic shift. Kane represents the most direct replication of what Madrid lose. Mbappé represents the future face of the club. Kolo Muani and Ramos represent long-term squad building. Havertz represents tactical flexibility.

Whichever path Madrid choose, this summer marks the beginning of a new attacking era, one where the club has an opportunity not just to replace a legend, but to redefine the future of their forward line.

So, if you were sitting in the Bernabéu offices — who would you choose?