How Chelsea could line up with Ronaldo

Updated: 2 Jul 2022 18:05 BST
3 min read

Cristiano Ronaldo for Portugal, 2021/22 — © ProShots

Cristiano Ronaldo only re-joined Manchester United last year after initially leaving to join Real Madrid for a world record fee in 2009, but he could be on the move again this summer.

The forward has asked the club to accept any suitable offers that come in for him this summer as he seeks a departure just one year after signing a two-year deal back at the club.

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A transfer away from Old Trafford isn't yet confirmed, but his agent Jorge Mendes has met with Chelsea owner and interim sporting director Todd Boehly, while the super-agent has also offered Ronaldo's services to Bayern Munich, Sporting CP and Roma.

Now, Chelsea have a plethora of attacking options in their squad, but with Romelu Lukaku re-joining Inter Milan on loan, Timo Werner potentially being used for a swap deal for Juventus' Matthijs de Ligt, and Armando Broja not guaranteed a place in the senior squad, Kai Havertz may be the only striker available next year.

If that is the case, then the links to Ronaldo makes sense. He remains a prolific goal-scorer, as seen by his tally of 24 goals last season, including one against Chelsea at Old Trafford, and could fill the hole left by Lukaku.

On Ronaldo's side, Chelsea would be able to offer Champions League football, which isn't a luxury Man Utd currently have at their disposal and is a key reason why the Portuguese legend wants to leave the club this summer.

If Ronaldo were to join Thomas Tuchel's side, then it may force the German head coach to tinker with his tried and tested 3-4-3 formation. With Havertz proving to be most effective when played through the middle, it's unlikely Tuchel will opt to move the young star away from that position.

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Furthermore, Ronaldo is no longer the tricky left-winger he once was, and he'd arrive as solely a central striker, meaning Tuchel may have to find a system to place them both. A 3-4-1-2 shape could therefore work best.

It could accommodate Mason Mount, Chelsea's two-time consecutive 'Player of the Season' behind a front-duo of Havertz and Ronaldo.

Width could be provided through the marauding wing-backs Ben Chilwell and Reece James, and solve the problem with a natural goal-scorer in the Chelsea squad.