The results of a MARCA.com poll suggest that the fans believe that who wears the armband at Real Madrid should continue to be determined by longevity.

In the event that both Iker Casillas and Sergio Ramos were to leave this summer, some 61.4% of the almost 6,000 respondents would prefer Marcelo to inherit the captaincy, rather than Cristiano Ronaldo assuming the mantle.

The majority of our readers seemingly put greater stock in the Brazilian's years of service, having been a member of the first-team squad since January 2007, than in Cristiano's general clout. It is worth remembering that Ronaldo only moved to the Bernabéu in the summer of 2009.

However, 38.6% of the poll participants believe that the Ballon d'Or holder should be the next in line as captain in recognition of his sensational performances over the last six years.

Regardless of the supporters' thoughts, Rafa Benítez will have the final say on the matter. One way or another, though, what is certain is that if Casillas and Ramos do both depart, Real Madrid will be skippered by a foreigner for just the second time. Mexican midfielder José Ramón Sauto was the pioneer on this score, wearing the armband between 1942 and 1944.