Chelsea have sparked outrage from Manchester United after reports regarding a potential play for Cristiano Ronaldo emerged.
The 37-year-old signed a two-year contract back at Old Trafford last summer with the option to extend that for a further 12 months. But while Ronaldo himself enjoyed a productive season - scoring 24 goals in all competitions - United endured a miserable campaign collectively.
Having come into the 2021/22 season with title ambitions, the Red Devils slumped to a sixth-placed finish, recording their worst ever Premier League points tally in the process. And with new manager Erik ten Hag enduring a firstrating start to his first window in charge, speculation regarding the Portuguese icon’s future has begun to mount.
Reports earlier in the week had suggested that Ronaldo’s agent Jorge Mendes had spoken to Bayern Munich, forcing the German champions to address the rumours. And on Saturday, claims of a meeting between the super-agent and Chelsea ’s new owner Todd Boehly came to light.
The Athletic stated that Boehly had a sit-down conversation with Mendes, where Ronaldo’s imminent future was addressed. United hit back furiously at any suggestion of last season’s top scorer making the move to Stamford Bridge, with a source telling Mirror Football: “Cristiano is not for sale. We want - and fully expect - him to be with us next season.”
Boehly is keen to make at least one marquee signing this summer, having finally completed the takeover from Roman Abramovich. And although there has been no report of an official bid, Blues boss Thomas Tuchel would likely be on board for a player he once said would improve any team in the world.
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Speaking shortly before his Premier League return last August, Tuchel joked: "I don’t think it’s good if he plays for any of our rivals! If he ends up in the Premier League, it’s good for the Premier League and shows how competitive and how difficult this league is.
"At the same time it will make life harder for us. I’m hearing it now for the first time so let’s wait and see what happens."
He also spoke in glowing terms about Ronaldo and how much his departure from Juventus would impact their squad. "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 said before taking on Juventus in the Champions League last year.
"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."
With Romelu Lukaku’s imminent return to Inter Milan, Tuchel looks set to be in the market for a centre-forward to help ease the burden on the likes of Timo Werner and Kai Havertz. And the German boss has previously stated that all of his players should look to Ronaldo and what he has done during his glittering career.
"I think many players can look up to the quality, attitude and career of Ronaldo,” he replied when asked about Havertz taking inspiration from the goalscoring icon.
