Todd Boehly has a huge incentive to sign Cristiano Ronaldo this summer, with Chelsea reportedly considering a move for the Manchester United striker. The 37-year-old has been heavily linked with an exit from Old Trafford, and the west Londoners have emerged as a likely destination.
According to The Times, the Portugal international has asked the Red Devils to respect his decision to leave the club should they receive a 'satisfactory offer'. It's believed that Ronaldo's decision is driven by his desire to play in the Champions League this season, with Erik ten Hag set to guide United into the Europa League.
And, with Chelsea reportedly considering a move for the striker, Todd Bohely could have already earned a head start after having met with super-agent Jorge Mendes in Portugal to discuss the player's future. The report adds that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner, who sees his contract at Old Trafford expire in just 12 months, has already been offered to Bayern Munich, but the German giants have baulked at the proposal.
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Whether or not the west Londoners table a bid is yet to be seen, but Boehly will check with Thomas Tuchel before escalating Chelsea's interest, according to The Times. And while the final decision may be in the Blues boss' hands, the American-led consortium could be swayed by the financial benefits that come with signing Ronaldo.
As quoted by UEFA, the Portuguese star's move to Old Trafford saw United rake in $45million (£32.5m) in shirt sales within the first 12 hours. Ronaldo's shirt was also the most-sold shirt in the 2021/22 season and the fastest-selling.
Nonetheless, Tuchel has already labelled the Portuguese star as 'one of the greatest' players of all time amid shock transfer talks between new owner Boehly and Mendes. The Chelsea boss said, as quoted by The Daily Express: "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 is one of the greatest who has ever played this game, and he proves it every time he is on the field. 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."
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