Chelsea are considering a move to sign Cristiano Ronaldo with the forward keen to leave Manchester United this summer.
Ronaldo has expressed a desire to leave the Red Devils should a suitable offer arrive, with the Portugal captain frustrated with the club’s lack of ambition in the transfer market to date.
The 37-year-old will not feature in the Champions League for the first time in almost two decades should he remain with United this summer, after the club finished sixth in the Premier League to miss out on qualification.
The Athletic are reporting that Chelsea are watching developments at Old Trafford, despite a stance from United that Ronaldo is not for sale.
Thomas Tuchel is keen to add goals to his side following the departure of Romelu Lukaku, while Chelsea’s new ownership are said to be ‘intrigued by the concept of recruiting such an iconic figure’.
Todd Boehly is understood to have held a meeting with Ronaldo’s agent, Jorge Mendes, last month in which the prospect of a move to Chelsea was discussed.
🚨 EXCL: Chelsea considering Cristiano Ronaldo move. Man Utd currently say not for sale but #CFC monitoring & not ruling out. Mendes talks continue – Boehly/Eghbali intrigued by idea. Tuchel admires 37yo but unclear if he would approve @TheAthleticUK #MUFC https://t.co/oFgWSX1b8q
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) July 4, 2022
Ronaldo returned to Manchester United last summer from Juventus and scored 24 goals in all competitions last season, earning the club’s Player of the Season accolade.
He remains contracted to the club until 2023 and the Red Devils want Ronaldo to remain and help the side’s rebuild under new manager Erik ten Hag this season.
