Cristiano Ronaldo could be on his way to joining Chelsea this summer.
Manchester United hero Cristiano Ronalo has been
sensationally linked with a move to Chelsea during the
summer transfer window.
It is not a rumour that many Blues supporters would have
envisaged just a few months ago but the club’s new owner
Todd Boehly is thought to be keen to add marquee new
signings to Thomas Tuchel’s squad before the window closes
and Ronaldo certainly fits that criteria. The 37-year-old is
also extremely keen to play in the UEFA Champions League,
with United failing to qualify for the elite European
competition last season, something Chelsea had no such
trouble doing.
So with that said, football.london have taken a look at the
latest reports linking the former Real Madrid frontman with a
move away from Old Trafford.
Agent offered
According to Corriere dello Sport, via Sportmediaset ,
Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes offered the footballing icon to
both Inter Milan and AC Milan. The Portuguese international
is keen to leave Manchester United and play in the UEFA
Champions League, although the two Serie A giants are said
to have declined a move given the player’s excessive salary.
Manchester United response
According to Sky Sports, via the Mirror , the Manchester
United have “no issue” in Ronaldo leaving the game against
Rayo Vallecano early. It is clarified that several first-team
stars were allowed to leave after their involvement in the
game had come to an end and that the striker was not the
only one to do so.
Transfer hint
Manchester United striker Cristiano Ronaldo appeared to
leave his side’s 1-1 draw with Rayo Vallecano early in pre-
season, pictured leaving Old Trafford before the final whistle.
The forward made his return to action in the pre-season
friendly, playing 45 minutes for the Red Devils.
Players are most often seen sticking around until the end of
the game, however his early exit may indicate his
commitment to the cause. or lack of it.
Erik ten Hag plan
Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was unable to give
a date for the return of Cristiano Ronaldo, but clarified that
he would be integrated into the squad once he is back. When
asked for an update, he told reports: “No. It’s the same as
last week. Of course, concerning is maybe not the right word
(over his absence).
“I focus on the players who are there and they are doing
really well. They are in good shape and I have further focus
on that and develop that. I cannot wait for him to come in
and then we will integrate him.”
Chelsea ‘one step closer’ to Ronaldo
Chelsea are “one step closer” to signing Manchester United
striker Cristiano Ronaldo this summer, according to reports.
The Portugal international has been heavily linked with an exit
from Old Trafford as he looks to continue competing in the
biggest competitions.
Portuguese football expert Pedro Sepulveda told Sky Sports
on Thursday: “I can’t see Ronaldo from Man Utd next season.
The two main teams one step closer than the others are
Chelsea and Atletico Madrid.
“I can see him playing for those two teams – Chelsea have a
new owner, a new project, with money to spend on transfers.
”
“He [Ronaldo] is still in Lisbon – he’s not been hiding
somewhere in Europe, he’s in Lisbon and hasn’t changed his
routine to hide from the journalists and people who want to
see him. He was spotted on his balcony at his apartments,
he’s still posting some pictures during his workouts and
training.
“He’s still waiting for what Jorge Mendes will tell him to do –
we don’t know if he’ll travel to Manchester, and even if he
does it doesn’t mean he will stay at United.”
Todd Boehly boost
Chelsea owner Todd Boehly is prepared to cover the full
financial package of signing Cristiano Ronaldo, according to
Sky Sports journalist Angelo Mangiante . While the striker is
viewing a return to the Champions League this season, he
has yet to decide on his future beyond Old Trafford.
Thomas Tuchel decision
Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel has ‘”little interest” in signing
Cristiano Ronaldo this summer, according to the
Independent . Despite that, the Blues are yet to make a
concrete decision on the Portugal international and whether
he will join the club.
Cristiano Ronaldo told he could ‘spoil’ Man Utd legacy with
Chelsea transfer as £14m bid prepared
Former Real Madrid, Liverpool and Man City star Steve
McManaman has warned the six-time Ballon d’Or winner of
the severe consequences that could follow if he was to give
the green light to a west London move.
“I’d be amazed if he went to Chelsea. Amazed. I can’t see
him going to another English team. I just cannot see it
happening. It’ll spoil his legacy after everything he has done
at Manchester United,” he told BettingOdds.com.
“PSG don’t need Ronaldo. It just muddies the water. It might
be a newspaper writer’s dream to have Messi and Ronaldo in
the same team three months before the Qatar World Cup, but
come on, it just seems nonsensical.”
Cristiano Ronaldo’s true transfer value revealed as Chelsea
prepare £14m bid for Man United star
With Chelsea reportedly preparing a £14million opening offer
for Cristiano Ronaldo, will that be enough to tempt Man
United into selling their iconic No.7 this summer?
According to Goal’s Bruno Andrade, the Glazer family are
willing to cash in for Ronaldo if his decision doesn’t change.
They are set to open negotiations with interested parties at
around £13million.
This ties in perfectly with what journalist Pete O’Rourke has
reported as he’s suggested that Todd Boehly is preparing a
£14million bid which could well and truly open up these
negotiations despite United not wanting to sell to a direct
Premier League rival.
However, with Bayern Munich ruling themselves out and PSG
not wanting the ‘bling’ factor anymore, the Blues could have
a somewhat free run at trying to poach the six-time Ballon
d’Or winner, but how much will they need to pay to secure
this dream signing?
As per Transfermarkt , Ronaldo is valued at around
£27million, nearly £10million more than what the CIES
Football Observatory state his current market value is in their
estimation. Nevertheless, if a £14million proposal was to be
accepted, Boehly could save a potential £13million on a
transfer swoop for the Portuguese icon.
Where Cristiano Ronaldo was spotted amid Manchester
United absence as Chelsea consider transfer
Cristiano Ronaldo has been spotted in an unexpected place
after Man United had excused their club icon from his pre-
season return amid strong Chelsea transfer talk.
The Athletic have exclusively reported that the new Blues
board are considering making the 37-year-old one of their
so-called ‘marquee’ signings this summer as talks with super-
agent Jorge Mendes continue after the first meeting last
week.
The player who had racked up a total of 3066 minutes for
United last term in all competitions, as per FBRef.com , was
excused from returning to Carrington due to family reasons,
but his appearance in a certain location has left more
questions than answers.
As per Portuguese Journalist Pedro Sepulveda, Ronaldo has
been present at the Portugal National Football team’s base in
Lisbon today as a video shows him reversing out of the car
park to head somewhere else.
Ronaldo wants United exit
Ronaldo has reportedly asked to leave Manchester United
this summer, with the striker eager to continue playing in the
Champions League. The decision came shortly after Todd
Boehly discussed the possibility of bringing him to Chelsea
this summer.
Bayern Munich have also reportedly been in touch over a
potential deal as Erik ten Hag begins his reign at Old Trafford
this summer. Ronaldo’s future has been the subject of plenty
of speculation since the Dutchman’s appointment was
announced, and it is looking increasingly likely he could leave
this summer.
A report from The Times revealed that he had asked United
to let him leave the club this summer if a suitable offer
comes in for his services. While the Champions League is a
factor in the decision, a traumatic year off the pitch has also
played its part after the death of his daughter put a
significant strain on him and his family.
Todd Boehly meeting
Todd Boehly is said to have met Ronaldo’s agent Jorge
Mendes to discuss a potential transfer swoop for the
Portuguese star as he grows disgruntled at the lack of
business Manchester United have done so far this summer.
With 12 months left on his contract and not knowing how
long he has left at the top level, the potential of a transfer
exit this summer, one year after returning to United, is on the
cards, with Bayern Munich already turning down this idea.
Step up, Chelsea.
And, The Athletic have reported that new owner Boehly met
with Ronaldo’s agent Mendes in Portugal to discuss a
number of topics. The Portugal international’s future was one
of the things discussed in this encounter.
Ronaldo’s verdict on his future
Ronaldo has already indirectly rubbished any chances of
moving to Chelsea by admitting that he is ‘happy’ to be where
he is right now in the Premier League amid speculation that
the forward is beginning to become frustrated with the
transfer activity of the Red Devils.
However, Ronaldo has admitted that he is ‘happy’ where he is
to rubbish any potential Chelsea transfer talk, as the 37-year-
old has also looked forward to life under Ten Hag next
season. “I was and still am very happy to be here,” he said in
a recent interview. “I know (Ten Hag) did a fantastic job for
Ajax and that he’s an experienced coach, but we need to give
him time, and things need to change the way he wants.
“I hope we have success. I wish him the best. We are happy
and excited. Let’s believe that next year we are going to win
trophies. I believe that Manchester [United] will be where they
belong. Sometimes it takes time, but I still believe.”
Thomas Tuchel’s verdict
Chelsea manager Thomas Tuchel has already labelled Man
United’s Cristiano Ronaldo as ‘one of the greatest’ players of
all time amid shock transfer talks between new owner Todd
Boehly and Jorge Mendes.
Just like he said with Paris Saint-Germain’s Neymar in the
past, the German, who had to see Ronaldo score against his
side in the 1-1 draw at Old Trafford last term, went on record
to declare that he believes Ronaldo to be one of the ‘greatest’
players to have stepped foot on the football pitch. “Time will
tell, but I think it is not a secret that any team in the world
without Cristiano [Ronaldo] is in some parts of the game a
weaker team,” he was quoted saying in the past via The Daily
Express.
“He is one of the greatest who has ever played this game,
and he proves it every time he is on the field. Now [he is] in
the Premier League and in the Champions League, so they
lost a big champion, a big point of reference and a big
personality. But you can win games and be a strong team
without Cristiano Ronaldo. This is also true.”
Man United’s and Erik ten Hag’s stance on Ronaldo
Although Man United’s owners may view the prospect of
cashing in on a player who is earning around £480,000-per-
week as an enticing one, new manager Ten Hag has already
made solid plans to have the Portuguese international as one
of the big players he relies upon next season.
There is even talk that Steve McClaren’s former assistant
could strip Harry Maguire of the captaincy in order to hand
Ronaldo more responsibility as United face a big season to
even achieve top four. Whatever happens with the captaincy
remains to be seen.
Speaking after his final game in charge of Ajax last month,
Ten Hag said via The Manchester Evening News: “From
tomorrow (Monday), my focus will be on United, and I will, of
course, get deep into things there. What I have to say about
it is, the detailed analysis still has to begin, I still have to
work with the team, but let me be clear that at United, there
are a lot of good players around. We have to make them
function as a team but definitely Ronaldo, he is a giant.”
In another interview with De Telegraaf, Ten Hag added:
“Ronaldo is a giant, because of what he’s already shown, and
I think he’s still very ambitious. Of course, I would like to keep
him. He’s been very important to Manchester United this year
and can produce great statistics.”
Joao Felix advantage
The Telegraph stated that Ronaldo to Chelsea is ‘highly
unlikely’ to happen this summer. Interestingly enough, though,
they did confirm that Boehly did enquire about a few of
Mendes’ other clients in his meeting in Portugal.
The likes of Atletico Madrid’s Joao Felix, AC Milan’s Rafael
Leao and Wolves’ Rayan Ait-Nouri are just a few clients of
the super agent. Felix, in particular, is a reported Spurs
target, so have Chelsea suddenly gained the advantage on
the Lilywhites in the transfer race through this meeting? Only
time will tell.
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