Despite finishing as Manchester United's top scorer last season with 18 Premier League goals, seven more than Chelsea's highest scorer Mason Mount, the Cristiano Ronaldo is still struggling to find a new club for next season.
The 37-year-old wishes to leave Old Trafford for the second time after just one season following his fairytale reunion with the club last summer. His decision to push for a move has given new manager Erik Ten Hag plenty to think about, but it's also raised the question of what Ronaldo could bring to other clubs if he was to join.
As a five time Ballon d'Or winner and the scorer of nearly 500 domestic league goals in his career Ronaldo's pedigree is not in doubt, neither is his ability to be a match winner. His value as a marketing tool and commercial addition would also be enticing, hence Todd Boehly's immediate interest in the player.
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The new Chelsea owner has been on a whirlwind tour of Europe's top agents in order to accrue a list of elite contacts as he searches desperately to bring in suitable recruits for Thomas Tuchel this summer. Boehly met with Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes to sound out a possible deal. As was the case with Raheem Sterling, the player was offered to Chelsea rather than Boehly taking an active role in attempting to negotiate his signing, and as it is believed that the player is available Tuchel would still have a deciding vote if he wanted to turn the move down.
The former Real Madrid and Juventus star has played no part in United's pre-season so far due to a family issue, but Ten Hag has remained staunch that he will be 'integrated 'back into the squad, saying, "I cannot wait for him to come in and then we will integrate him." The official message coming from the club is still that he is not for sale, even with just one year left on his current deal.
This hasn't stopped fans theorising about what might have been. Given Chelsea's struggles going forward in pre-season, something that has directly attracted Tuchel's anger, adding a player that has only scored less than 20 league goals three times in the last 18 seasons would make sense.
The Blues were rudderless in attack against Arsenal and Tuchel's urgent plea for new forward players had Chelsea fans turning back to Ronaldo. Supporters on social media had been largely against signing Ronaldo before pre-season started but the club's current position has prompted many to change their tune.
There hasn't been a flock to Ronaldo as he might have expected though. With wages of nearly £400,000 per week in Manchester, there are only a select few clubs that could sign him. This has led to recent reports that Ten Haag would be willing to temporarily move Ronaldo on via a season-long loan.
With Chelsea still stuck for striking options and the chance to have Ronaldo as a short term fix, here's what social media thought of a possible Tuchel-Ronaldo link-up at Stamford Bridge.
@HThekisho: @ChelseaFC get on top of this
@iamMista_jay: Sounds crazy, but the Chelsea board should be jumping at Cristiano Ronaldo right now. At least one season from him till we find a Number 9 isn't bad at all.
@Lukeyboy_CFC: @ChelseaFC I’m on my knees
@ClassOfEden: @ChelseaFC wake up. I cant watch Werner anymore
@omusama6: How about we get this man just for one season as we look for a possible number 9
@OvieO: Chelsea need Ronaldo. But they don’t realize it yet. They will, when it’s too late.
@CFC_Janty: We employ Werner and Batshuayi but Chelsea fans were saying no to Cristiano Ronaldo
@CFCDUBois: Chelsea fans were turning down Ronaldo. Cristiano Ronaldo. You deserve this. My head is in SPACE. The audacity to complain about Michy when you said no to CR7 for project, harmony & age! How’s the project looking?
@malikofori: Tuchel can't tell me Chelsea don't need Ronaldo
@Filaman19: At this moment I thank Ronaldo will deliver more goals at Chelsea than Timo Werner
@Kiswili_10: After watching Arsenal humiliate Chelsea, if I were Thomas Tuchel I would call Todd Boehly and tell him to get me Cristiano Ronaldo. We clearly can't depend on Werner and Havertz next season for goals. They will let us down big time.
@manan_eth: It’s funny how TT thinks Chelsea don’t need Ronaldo
@UnbiasedKevin: Chelsea really turned down the chance to sign Ronaldo...Chelsea fans deserve this humbling...just shows how much we need an attacker at this moment
@JaynaijaBlog: This Werner is a farmer… Chelsea better leave kounde and start chasing a striker It’s even better to give Ronaldo a one year deal
@Mawunya_: Why’s Chelsea refusing to sign Cristiano Ronaldo? I don’t even understand Thomas Tuchel no more
@dharnyyoung: The way Chelsea fans were saying no to Ronaldo, you'd think they have Harry Kane up front.
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