Chelsea could sign Ronaldo from Man Utd now Tuchel's gone
FT Desk
- 8 Sept 2022 14:37 BST
- 3 min read
Todd Boehly wanted to sign Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United this summer before Thomas Tuchel shut the idea down. Now the American owner could get his man in January.
It's no secret that Ronaldo wanted to leave Manchester United this summer. The Red Devils failed to qualify for the Champions League last season, and he's desperate to add to his record 140 goals in the competition.
Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes offered the player to Chelsea - among others - and Boehly was understood to be interested, from a business point of view, in perhaps the most marketable athlete in the world.
Jorge Mendes trying to get Ronaldo out of Manchester 🚜 pic.twitter.com/Q2FS9d46BA
— Football Transfers (@Transfersdotcom) July 31, 2022
But Tuchel was concerned about Ronaldo's pressing, or lack thereof, and also the impact his big personality might have on his dressing room. He refused to sanction to move, spent nearly €300 million on other players. And then got sacked.
Chelsea could pounce
"Now, though, with Tuchel gone, it could be one Chelsea revisit in the January transfer window," write football.london. "When New Year rolls around, the Portugal international will have just six months remaining on his contract at Old Trafford. United may be willing to sell for very cheap.
"Alternatively, Chelsea could wait until the summer and get Ronaldo for absolutely nothing (bar wages, of course)."
Chelsea are set to appoint Brighton's Graham Potter as Tuchel's successor as manager and he will no doubt have his own ideas, but as a Boehly appointment the Englishman will likely be more open to suggestion in what his first top job.
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Tuchel previously fell out with Borussia Dortmund and Paris Saint-Germain over transfers, and his suffering the Chelsea blues might not be that surprising on closer inspection.
Ronaldo has played a bit-part role at Old Trafford this season, watching on from the bench for most of the Red Devils' recent run which has seen them put together a four-game winning streak under Erik ten Hag.
Even half a season in the Champions League - assuming Chelsea make it out of the groups - would no doubt make a move appealing to him.
