Gary Neville believes that Chelsea are considering a move for Cristiano Ronaldo despite concern that Graham Potter is opposed to signing the striker. The 37-year-old star is now a free agent after Manchester United confirmed last week that he would leave the club with immediate effect.
With the Portugal international on the market and readily available to sign, a handful of the world's richest clubs have been heavily linked with signing the five-time Ballon d'Or winner - one of which being the Blues. Todd Boehly tried to sign Ronaldo in the summer before Thomas Tuchel stood in his way.
According to CBS journalist Ben Jacobs, the German was a primary 'roadblock' in negotiations and the former Chelsea boss even refused to hold serious discussions. With Tuchel out of the picture now, the report states that Ronaldo's agent Jorge Mendes will offer his client to the west Londoners, but a move is 'complicated'.
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Despite the great speculation, it remains to be seen whether Chelsea make an approach. Speaking on beIN SPORTS, Neville claimed that he think the Blues are 'talking about' signing Ronaldo.
"I think he [Ronaldo] wants to carry on playing at the elite level football and I think he’s got a cameo in him at a top club probably for the last four months of the season where he’ll go and score 15, 20 goals and it wouldn’t surprise me at all," the former Manchester United defender said.
"It could be either (UK or abroad), it could be the UK if there is a team that will bite. It’s more likely abroad. Chelsea are the ones that I think are talking about it. Boehly seems to like the idea of Cristiano at Chelsea."
Neville continued as he questioned whether Potter would sanction the Portuguese star's arrival. He said: "If you are looking at as a long-term thing, no [they shouldn’t sign him].
"Two to three years, even one-and-a-half years. But if you are looking at a four, five month, you want someone who can put the ball in the back of the net and it’s a pretty sure bet that he will, I’d say go for it.
"I’m not sure [Chelsea will go for it[ because I’m not sure Graham Potter will want that. I think he’ll want to build a more youthful project."
Potter has kept his cards close to his chest with regard to Ronaldo. Speaking ahead of Chelsea's home clash with AC Milan in the Champions League, the 47-year-old didn't rule anything out.
He said: "We can spend all day with these questions, but I'm not going to speak about this. If they are not our players, I am not going to speak to them."
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